Abstract:
A toilet modernizer is provided for allowing touchless manipulation of a toilet seat and lid by a user. An outer housing that is attachable under the toilet lid contains the other components of the device in one simple module. As part of the module, a latching member actuated by a user-manipulated actuator element selectively latches and unlatches the seat and lid, so that the user can select to lift the two elements as a unit or to lift only the lid, all the while without having to touch any part of the toilet. In an embodiment a lighting element is included, and in a further embodiment, a scent spray module is also included in the module.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is related generally to household toilet devices, and, more particularly, to a system and method for improving the convenience and use of a household toilet device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The technology underlying the modern toilet was invented in the 1700&#39;s, but there has been little substantial improvement since that time. In particular, while complaints of inadequacy abound, solutions to noted problems have been few and far between. For example, men and women employ the traditional toilet in different ways, and this is a known source of conflict and disagreement, and yet little has been done to address the issue. 
         [0003]    The current state of technology as to that particular issue is for men to lift the seat prior to urinating and then lower the seat again after urinating. While this is a simple system, it is not reliable nor is it convenient. In addition, even if properly executed, it does not solve other conflicts that arise in low light settings such as during night time use. 
         [0004]    While the present disclosure is directed to a system that can eliminate certain shortcomings noted in or apparent from this Background section, it should be appreciated that such a benefit is neither a limitation on the scope of the disclosed principles nor of the attached claims, except to the extent expressly noted in the claims. Additionally, the discussion of technology in this Background section is reflective of the inventors&#39; own observations, considerations, and thoughts, and is in no way intended to accurately catalog or comprehensively summarize the art currently in the public domain. As such, the inventors expressly disclaim this section as admitted or assumed prior art. Moreover, the identification or implication above of a desirable course of action reflects the inventors&#39; own observations and ideas, and should not be assumed to indicate an art-recognized desirability. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In keeping with an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a toilet modernizer device includes a housing configured for attachment beneath a lid of a toilet and a latching member having a first position wherein the latching member latches under a seat of the toilet so as to lift the toilet seat when the housing is lifted, and a second position wherein the latching member clears the toilet seat such that only the toilet lid is lifted when the housing is lifted. An actuator member is included, having a grip portion for the user to grip the actuator member. The actuator member is linked to the latching member for moving the latching member between the first position and the second position. 
         [0006]    In keeping with another embodiment of the disclosed principles, a toilet includes a housing attached to the lid, a latching member having a first position wherein the latching member latches under the seat and a second position wherein the latching member clears the seat. An actuator member having a grip is linked to the latching member and enables a user to move the latching member between the first position and the second position. 
         [0007]    Other features and aspects of embodiments of the disclosed principles will be appreciated from the detailed disclosure taken in conjunction with the included figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    While the appended claims set forth the features of the present techniques with particularity, these techniques, together with their objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a toilet assembly in relation to which embodiments of the disclosed principles may be implemented; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a toilet and toilet moderniser in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed principles; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an alternative lever system in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed principles; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a toilet and toilet moderniser in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosed principles; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a toilet moderniser in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosed principles; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a toilet moderniser in accordance with a further alternative embodiment of the disclosed principles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Before presenting a fuller discussion of the disclosed principles, an overview is given to aid the reader in understanding the later material. As noted above, despite the almost ancient nature of the modern toilet, there have been no substantial steps taken to eliminate the known problem of leaving the seat up or down as the case may be, nor has the toilet become any easier to use in low light conditions such as during night time use. 
         [0016]    However, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a toilet moderniser device is provided which allows movement of the toilet seat up and down without requiring the user to contact the seat. In a further embodiment, the device provides illumination for low light conditions and may also provide a triggered, timed or manual scent function to allow a fragrance or deodorizing spray to be emitted. 
         [0017]    With this overview in mind, and turning now to a more detailed discussion in conjunction with the attached figures,  FIG. 1  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a toilet, toilet seat and toilet lid within which embodiments of the disclosed principles may be implemented. The illustrated toilet  100  includes a bowl  101  as well as a seat  103  and a lid or cover  105 . Each of the seat  103  and lid  105  is liftable such that the toilet  100  may be used with the lid  105  up and the seat  103  down, or with the lid  105  up and the seat  103  up as well. Typically, female users will use the toilet  101  in the first mode while male users will use the toilet  100  in the second mode, especially while urinating. 
         [0018]    As noted above, male users may neglect to return the seat  103  to the lowered position after urinating, thus causing a subsequent female user to accidentally sit directly on the rim of the bowl  101 . This not only causes consternation in the female user, but may also pose a hygienic issue. 
         [0019]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , this figure shows a toilet  200  such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , including a moderniser  207  in keeping with an embodiment of the disclosed principles. The moderniser  207  in the illustrated embodiment comprises a body portion  203  which may be made of one or more parts and which generally houses the remainder of the elements of the moderniser  207 . In the illustrated embodiment, the moderniser  207  is affixed to an underside of the lid  205 . The manner of affixing the toilet moderniser  207  to the lid  205  is not critical, and any permanent or impermanent means may be used, including screws, nails, Velcro™, suction cups, adhesives and so on. 
         [0020]    A prominent feature of the moderniser  207  in the illustrated embodiment is a lever or arm  209  that, when moved, allows the user to connect the seat  203  to the lid  205  or to detach the seat  203  from the lid  205 . The lever  209  may also serve as a holding point to allow the user to lift the moderniser  207 , thus lifting the lid  205  and also lifting the seat  203  if the two are attached. 
         [0021]    The mechanism by which the lever  209  attaches and detaches the seat  203  from the lid  205  is not critical, but in an embodiment the lever  209  attaches to a latch member  211 , such that pivoting of the lever  209  serves to pivot the latch member  211  into engagement under the seat  205 . In other embodiments, the lever  209  may be pulled in and out to attach/detach and detach/attach the seat  203  and lid  205 . Any number of variations are possible, although it is not preferred to have the lever  209  operate vertically since the lever  209  may also be used as a control point by the user to lift and lower the seat  203  and lid  205  together, or the lid  205  alone. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an overhead plan view of the latch and lever portion of the moderniser  207 . As can be seen, in the illustrated embodiment, the latch member  211  is not only displaced downward from the lever  209  but is also disposed at a right angle to the lever  209 . 
         [0023]    In the configuration shown, the lever  209  includes a finger hole  301  to allow the user to easily slide the lever  209  and lift and lower the moderniser and the seat  203  or the seat  203 /lid  205  unit. Other shapes may be used to allow easy grip by the user&#39;s hand, including dimples, serrations and so on. It is preferred that the length of the lever and location of the finger hole  301  are such that the user&#39;s finger is spaced away from the lid  205  and seat  203  to avoid accidental touching of the user&#39;s finger to any component of the toilet. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative configuration of the moderniser  207  in which a slide latch is used instead of a rotating latch. In this embodiment, the lever  400  slides in and out of the moderniser  207  housing, and an attached latch  401  slides with it. The attached latch  401  is located so as to engage the seat  203  when the lever  400  is pulled outward to the extended position, and to disengage the seat  203  when the lever  400  is pushed inward to the compressed position. 
         [0025]    Although pivoting and outwardly sliding latches have been shown by way of example, it will be appreciated that other types of latch mechanisms are possible. These include for example, twisting latches, laterally sliding latches, pinch latches and so on. Also, although the latching element is shown to be inward of the seat in the examples, other configurations are possible. For example, the latching element may be outside the seat instead, although this would make the latch element visible to the user. 
         [0026]    As noted above, the toilet moderniser described herein may also include a lighting option and/or a fragrance option. With respect to the lighting option, the toilet moderniser in this embodiment includes a light such as an LED that directs illumination to aid the user in low light conditions. An example of this embodiment is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0027]    In particular,  FIG. 5  shows a simplified cross-sectional side view of the toilet moderniser  500  wherein a lighting fixture  501  is included in the housing  503  of the moderniser  500 . As noted above, the lighting fixture  501  may comprise an LED or other light source and is powered by one or more batteries  505  within the housing  503 . A hatch  507  in the housing  503  allows the batteries to be changed. In the event that rechargeable batteries  505  are used, a charging port (not shown) may be provided. 
         [0028]    In a further related embodiment, a light sensor  509  is provided to trigger the lighting fixture  501 . For example, the lighting fixture  501  may be turned on when low light conditions are detected by the light sensor  509  and may be turned off when normal lighting is detected. Although the placement of the light sensor  509  and the lighting fixture  501  are not critical, placing the light sensor  509  at the opposite side of the device as the lighting fixture  501  as shown may provide an efficient way to prevent the turning on of the lighting fixture  501  from triggering the light sensor  509  to depower the lighting fixture  501 . 
         [0029]    It was also noted above that a fragrance option is provided in an embodiment of the disclosed principles. In this embodiment, the fragrance option includes a canister or other container, preferably under pressure, that may be selectively triggered to release a controlled amount of a scent or deodorant. An example of this embodiment is shown  FIG. 6 . 
         [0030]    The embodiment of the toilet moderniser  600  illustrated in  FIG. 6  shows a fragrance canister  601  within the housing  603  and having an outlet through the housing  603 . The canister  601  is linked to a trigger  605 , which may be electrical or mechanical. In an optional embodiment, the trigger  605  is electronic and is based on presence detection, e.g., via IR or optical sensing. In an alternative optional embodiment, the trigger  605  is manual and is depressed by the user when desired. 
         [0031]    Although the various embodiments are shown separately for clarity, it will be appreciated that the options need not be used one at a time and may of course be combined in a single implementation of the moderniser. Thus, for example, in an embodiment the moderniser includes both a lighting option and a scent or fragrance option. Alternatively either option alone may be provided in an implementation. 
         [0032]    It will be appreciated that the described toilet moderniser is not permanently affixed to the toilet lid but instead can be added to or removed from the toilet lid with little effort and without modification (other than possibly screw holes) to the lid. As noted above, the attachment mechanism may be one or more of screws (wood screws or machine screws and matching threaded inserts), bolts and nuts, Velcro, adhesives, suction cups and so on. 
         [0033]    It will be appreciated that system and techniques for improved toilet operation have been disclosed herein. However, in view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the present disclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the embodiments described herein with respect to the drawing figures are meant to be illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the claims. Therefore, the techniques as described herein contemplate all such embodiments as may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof