Abstract:
An offset bracket device for adjusting the attachment point of a toilet seat to a toilet bowl allows a user to move the pivot point of the toilet seat forwardly away from a toilet water tank in order to prevent the toilet seat from accidentally closing when in an open state. A pair of devices attaches the toilet seat to the toilet; each including bracket having a downwardly extending threaded attachment and an upwardly extending forwardly offset threaded attachment. Each device is installed by orienting the offset threaded attachments with a receiving aperture of the toilet bowl and a receiving aperture of the toilet seat.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to toilet seats, and in particular, to an offset bracket for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet seat support surface of a toilet base forward of a water tank. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically the toilet seat is an ovular or “U”-shaped seating surface that rests upon the upper rim of the toilet bowl. The seat includes a pair of hinge attachments located on a rear end which are fastened to toilet bowl base. The toilet bowl base is provided with fastening apertures located near the rear end of the bowl by the water tank. The fixed location of the fastening apertures does not allow for any flexibility in the positioning of the toilet seat relative to the bowl or the water tank. 
     A common problem of this design is that the toilet seat or lid will fall from its opened or lifted position. Such an occurrence generally happens when the toilet seat is oversized, padded, provided with a fabric covering, or incorporates a similar modification. These modifications prevent the toilet seat from resting at a properly inclined angle upon the toilet tank to prevent it from falling down. This problem is acerbated when male users have to hold the seat in a lifted position while utilizing the toilet. This presents great problems if the man should have back problems or are otherwise disabled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has therefore recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for toilet seats that can be modified in such a manner that they remain in a lifted or open position without being held. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to solve at least one (1) of these problems. The inventor has addressed this need by developing an offset bracket for a toilet seat that allows for the stabilization of a toilet seat and lid in a lifted position. These and other objects are achieved by providing an offset bracket device for connecting a toilet seat to a toilet base forward of a water tank. The bracket device includes bracket plate having an upper surface that is attachable to the toilet seat and a lower surface that is attachable to the toilet base. The bracket plate is a unitary member having a fastener plate portion and a support plate portion. The fastener plate portion includes a first stud fastener protruding perpendicularly from the bracket plate upper surface to insertingly engage a fastener aperture of a toilet seat hinge attachment of the toilet seat. A second stud fastener is provided protruding perpendicularly from the bracket plate lower surface to insertingly engage a fastener aperture of a toilet seat support surface of the toilet base. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, the first stud fastener and the second stud fastener each include a threaded upper portion and a threadless cylindrical lower portion. The first stud fastener cylindrical lower portion snugly fits within the fastener aperture of the toilet seat hinge attachment and the second stud fastener cylindrical lower portion snugly fits within the fastener aperture of the toilet seat support surface of the toilet base. The first stud fastener is disposed toward an end of fastener bracket portion and the second stud fastener is disposed toward a center of the fastener bracket portion defining an offset distance between the first stud fastener and the second stud fastener in order to provide an increased resting angle to prevent the toilet seat from falling. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, a pair of offset bracket devices is provided for connecting the toilet seat to the toilet base forward of a water tank. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, an offset toilet seat device is provided that includes the toilet seat for resting on the toilet seat support surface of the toilet base. The toilet seat includes the pair of toilet seat hinge attachments and a pair of bracket devices for connecting the toilet seat to the toilet base forward of a water tank. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side environmental view of an offset bracket for a toilet seat in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top environmental view of an offset bracket for a toilet seat; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the offset bracket for a toilet seat; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the offset bracket for a toilet seat. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  offset bracket for a toilet seat 
               20  bracket plate 
               22  fastener plate 
               24  support plate 
               26  first stud fastener 
               28  second stud fastener 
               30  nut fastener 
               35  offset dimension 
               100  toilet seat 
               110  toilet 
               115  water tank 
               120  toilet bowl 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , depicting offset bracket for a toilet seat (herein described as a “device”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. In accordance with the invention, the present disclosure describes the device  10  used to anchor a toilet seat  100  such that the toilet seat  100  is forwardly repositioned approximately three-eighths (%) of an inch. In use, a pair of the devices  10  is applied to the toilet seat  100  and a toilet  110 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a side and a top environmental view of the device  10 . The toilet  110  is preferably a standard design including a rear-mounted water tank  115  and a toilet bowl  120 . The forward repositioning of the toilet seat  100  provides a greater angle for the seat or lid portion of the toilet seat  100  to lean against a water tank  115  in a stable manner when the toilet seat  100  is in a lifted position. The device  10  makes it more likely for the toilet seat  100  to remain in the raised position without needing to be held in position by a user. The device  10  is useful when used in conjunction with padded seats, seats  115  is positioned closer to the toilet bowl  120  than is normal. The device  10  is preferably made of a durable molded nylon material molded in a variety of colors to match an existing décor. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a perspective and a side view of the device  10 . The device  10  is preferably introduced for sale as a pair of identical units  10  allowing the user to secure a single toilet seat  100  to the toilet  110  for use. Each device  10  includes a bracket plate  20 . The bracket plate  20  includes a fastener plate  22  and a support plate  24 . The bracket plate  20  is a rectangular planar member approximately four (4) inches in length, one-and-one-half (1½) inches in width, and approximately one-quarter (¼) inch thick. The bracket plate  20  is preferably made of nylon or an equivalent resilient material. 
     The fastener plate  22  constitutes a rearward half of the bracket plate  20  and has a reduced thickness compared with the support plate  24 . The fastener plate  22  includes an integrally-molded first stud fastener  26  which protrudes perpendicularly downward and an integrally-molded second stud fastener  28  which protrudes perpendicularly upward. The second stud fastener  28  is forwardly offset from the first stud fastener  26  as indicated by an offset dimension  35 . The offset dimension  35  is approximately three-eighths (%) of an inch to reposition the toilet seat  100  forwardly and away from the water tank  115  following installation of the device  10 . Each stud fastener  26 ,  28  is a threaded shaft that is inserted through the fastening apertures in the toilet  110  and toilet seat  100 . The device  10  is securely attached to the toilet by attaching a threaded nut fastener  30  to the first stud fastener  26 . The toilet seat  100  is securely attached to the device  10  by attaching another threaded fastener  30  to the second stud fastener  28 . The support plate  28  constitutes a forward half of the bracket plate  20  which partially protrudes toward a center of the toilet seat  100  to support the bottom surface of a rear portion of the toilet seat  100  normally supported by a rim of the toilet bowl  120 . 
     The first stud fastener  26  and the second stud fastener  28  each include a threaded upper portion and a threadless cylindrical lower portion. The cylindrical lower portion of the first stud fastener  26  is suitably sized to snugly fit within the fastener aperture of the toilet seat hinge attachment of the toilet seat. The cylindrical lower portion of the second stud fastener  28  is suitably sized to snugly fit within the fastener aperture of the toilet seat support surface of the toilet base. 
     It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles and configurations of the invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure and only one particular configuration has been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     In accordance with the invention, the preferred embodiment can be utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it is installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  can be achieved by performing a series of steps. It can be appreciated that the steps described can be performed in alternative order and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor. Acquiring the device  10  having a desired color to match an existing décor. Removing the existing toilet seat  100  and corresponding attaching hardware from the toilet  110 . Installing one (1) device  10  by inserting the first stud fastener  26  downwardly into an aperture of the toilet bowl  120 . Securing the device  10  to the toilet bowl  120  by threadingly engaging and tightening the nut fastener  30  to the first stud fastener  26 . Installing the second unit of the device  10  into another aperture of the toilet bowl  120  in a similar fashion. Re-installing the toilet seat  100  by inserting the second stud fasteners  28  of the two (2) devices  10  into apertures of the toilet seat  100 . Securing the toilet seat  100  to the devices  10  by threadingly engaging and tightening additional nut fasteners  30  to the second stud fasteners  28 . Utilizing the toilet seat  100  in a traditional manner. Benefiting from a more stable toilet seat  100  when in the raised position leaning against the water tank  115 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.