Abstract:
A hidden hinge system for raising and lowering a toilet seat or toilet lid is disclosed. In one embodiment, each hinge includes a curved support with a smooth, easy to clean surface. The curved support is connected to a lever and the lever is connected to a hinge assembly. We disclose embodiments in which both the lever and the hinge assembly are enclosed within a toilet housing to improve cleanliness. We further disclose embodiments in which the curved supports are hollow and which contain electrical wiring, water, and gases. Controller and proximity sensors which modulate the raising and lowering of the toilet seat and toilet lid are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to hinge systems for lifting and lowering toilet lids and toilet seats. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Conventional toilets seats and lids have exposed hinges which rotate around an exposed hinge point. This design presents challenges for cleaning and aesthetics. The exposed hinges provide surfaces and orifices which are easy targets for bacterial growth, accumulation of dirt, hair, and dust, and frequent staining. Urine or toilet water may be splashed or sprayed on the exposed hinges between cleanings. 
     One need is to move the hinges on toilet seats and lids to a location where they are not splashed by water or urine, leaving the exposed surfaces flat and smooth. Such a design would be easy to clean, rather the conventional design which requires cleaning in, around, and under various points of the hinge system. 
     Furthermore, more advanced toilets include more complex plumbing and electrical systems that power features beyond simple waste removal. A hinge system with a cavity for housing electrical wiring and/or transporting water and gases is needed. 
     Ideally, such improvements in toilet seat hinges and lid hinges would increase toilet cleanliness, reduce cleaning frequency, and provide a protected cavity in which to install wiring and tubing for use in more advanced features. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available systems. Accordingly, an improved toilet hinge system has been developed. Features and advantages of different embodiments of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     Consistent with the foregoing, a hidden hinge system for use on a toilet seat or lid is disclosed and claimed herein. The hinge system includes a curved support, which has a smooth surface, and which is exposed when the toilet seat or lid is raised. The curved support rotates into the toilet body as the seat or lid is lowered. The curved support is connected to a lever and the lever is connected to a hinge assembly. The lever and hinge assembly are located within the toilet body. 
     We further disclose embodiments of the invention in which the curved support may be hollow. The hollow interior of the curved support may contain electrical wiring, water, and/or gases. The water or gases may be transported through the hollow interiors to other parts of the toilet to perform functions that include cleaning or drying. 
     We further disclose embodiments of the invention in which controllers direct the raising and lowering of the toilet seat and/or lid. Embodiments in which the controllers respond to proximity sensors to raise or lower the toilet seat or lid when a user approaches are further disclosed and claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a toilet in which both the toilet seat and lid are raised and lowered on hidden hinge systems according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a toilet seat and toilet lid, each in connection with an embodiment of the hidden hinge system; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a side view and close-up side view respectively of a toilet seat and lid attached to a hinge system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4A  shows a side view of an embodiment of the hinge system with a curved support and a lever; 
         FIG. 4B  shows a side view of the hinge of  FIG. 4A  with a lever attached to a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4C  shows a spring assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4D  shows a cross-sectional view of a toilet with the hidden hinge system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4E  shows the relative dimensions of a curved support and a lever according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5A  shows a toilet seat with curved supports that include hollow interiors according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5B  shows the curved supports of  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the invention. The presently described embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , toilet  100  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. Toilet  100  comprises rim  102 , lid  104 , seat  106 , and bowl  108 . Seat  106  is connected to curved supports  110  and  112 . Lid  104  is connected to curved supports  114  and  116 . Curved supports  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  have approximately smooth surfaces for ease of cleaning. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, curved supports  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  rotate downward and into openings in the housing of toilet  100  when seat  106  and lid  104  are lowered. When located within the toilet housing, curved supports  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  are further protected from exposure to dirt, hair, and dust. As one of skill in the art will recognize, other embodiments of toilets may comprise of only one or the other of the hinge systems shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, an embodiment of a toilet may comprise curved supports  110  and  112  but not curved supports  114  and  116 . Alternatively, an embodiment of a toilet may comprise of curved supports  114  and  116  but not curved supports  110  and  112 . 
       FIG. 2  shows toilet seat assembly  200  with seat  202  and lid  204 . Seat  202  comprises first curved support  210  and second curved support  212  at its base, first curved support  210  being hingedly attached to first hinge assembly  218 , and second curved support  212  being hingedly attached to second hinge assembly  220 . In some embodiments, the curved supports are connected to the hinge assemblies by means of levers that are positioned between the curved support and a hinge assembly as described in more detail elsewhere herein. 
     Toilet seat assembly  200  also comprises lid  204  which comprises third curved support  214  and fourth curved support  216 , the third curved support  214  being attached to the first hinge assembly  218  and the fourth curved support  216  being attached to the second hinge assembly  220 . First curved support  210  and second curved support  212  each comprise a hollow interior cavity through which water tubes, gas tubes, or electrical wires may be passed into seat  202 . Third curved support  214  and fourth curved support  216  also each comprise a hollow interior cavity through which water tubes, gas tubes, or electrical wires may be passed into lid  204 . Other embodiments of the invention may comprise of solid curved supports which do not provide a hollow interior cavity. 
     First hinge assembly  218  and second hinge assembly  220  may comprise motors so that the movement of seat  202  and the lid  204  is motorized. The motorized seat  202  and lid  204  would be particularly helpful to toilet users with a medical condition that prevents them from easily reaching, moving, or lifting objects. The use of motors also gives the toilet seat assembly  200  a capacity for autonomous function. For example, the motors may be controlled by a controller, which comprises a processor and a memory unit. The processor may also be connected to seat sensors such as strain gauges or pressure transducers in seat  202 . The processor may also be connected to proximity sensors in seat  202  or in lid  204 . The processor may also be connected seat sensors that measure displacement of water in the toilet bowl. Using these sensors, the processor may determine that a user is sitting on seat  202 , or otherwise using the toilet by monitoring connected sensors. When a user is detected to have finished using the toilet and is also detected to no longer be sitting on the toilet, the processor may use the controller to automatically close lid  204  and perform a toilet flush. The processor may also monitor sensors to determine when a user intends to urinate into the toilet from a standing position and automatically lift seat  202  using motors in first hinge assembly  218  and second hinge assembly  220 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows a side view of a toilet seat assembly comprising seat  302  in a partially open position and lid  304  in a lifted or open position.  FIG. 3B  shows a close up view of the same side view shown in  FIG. 3A . Seat  302  is shown connected to curved support  312 , the latter of which is attached to first lever  314 . Lid  304  is shown having curved support  306 , the latter of which is attached to second lever  308 . First lever  314  and second lever  308  are pivotally attached to a hinge assembly  310 . Hinge assembly  310  may be fixedly attached to a toilet body so that seat  302  and lid  304  are attached to the toilet. The hinge assembly may comprise a motor so that seat  302  and lid  304  can be controlled automatically by a processor in a manner described previously. First lever  314  and second lever  308  provide attachment points to curved support  312  and curved support  306  respectively and allow movement of seat  302  and lid  304  to occur at an offset distance away from the axis of rotation of hinge assembly  310 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows a simplified hinge system separated from the seat or lid and from the hinge assembly.  FIG. 4A  is provided to show a part of a single hinge system that pertains only to the lifting of either a seat or lid. The hinge assembly is removed for clarity.  FIG. 4A  illustrates curved support  402  which includes first end  416  and second end  418 .  FIG. 4A  further shows first lever  404  which includes first end  420  and second end  422 . Second end  418  of curved support  402  is connected to first end  420  of lever  404 . Second end  422  of first lever  404  is connected to axis of rotation  406 . Axis of rotation  406  is provided to show how first lever  404  rotates as well as second lever  408  which is not shown in this drawing. 
       FIG. 4B  shows a hinge system  400  which includes the components shown in  FIG. 4A  as well as additional components to create a second hidden hinge system. Hinge system  400  includes curved support  402  which is connected to seat  412 . Second lever  408  is also included in  FIG. 4B  and is the lever to which a second curved support would be attached. For simplicity, the second curved support is not shown but it is attached to a toilet lid in a manner similar to that in which curved support  402  is attached to seat  412 . Like first lever  404 , second lever  408  is pivotally attached to axis of rotation  406 . 
       FIG. 4B  further shows a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes coiled section  410  and extension  414 . Extension  414  is positioned against second lever  408 , although in some embodiments, a second spring assembly may be positioned against first lever  404 . The resistance from the spring assembly pushes against second lever  408 . The resistance is transmitted through the hinge system to oppose the movement of the curved support. The motor or manual force which is applied to lift the lid must overcome the resistance to fully lift the lid. Consequently, the lid does not fly up too quickly in the process of lifting because the resistance slows the movement.  FIG. 4C  shows the spring assemble close up.  FIG. 4C  shows coiled section  410  wrapped around a support rod. Extension  414  is shown as a continuation of coiled section  410 . 
       FIG. 4D  is a side view of the hinge system shown in  FIG. 4B  which is installed in a toilet. A first end of curved support  402  is attached to seat  412 . A second end of curved support  402  is attached to first lever  404 . Second lever  408  is shown and a curved support which would be attached to second lever  408  is omitted for clarity. Both first lever  404  and second lever  408  rotate around axis of rotation  406 . Spring support  410  is shown in contact with second lever  408 . 
       FIG. 4E  illustrates an embodiment in which the relative lengths of curved support  402  and first lever  404  are shown. In some embodiments, the length of first lever  404 , depicted as “x” in  FIG. 4E , is approximately equal to the distance along curved support  402  from first end  416  to second end  418 , also depicted as “x” in  FIG. 4E . First end  416  and second end  418  of curved support  402  are defined in  FIG. 4A . In other embodiments, the length of first lever  404  is within 20% of the distance along curved support  402  from first end  416  to second end  418 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate embodiments of the curved supports in which the curved supports include a hollow interior cavity.  FIG. 5A  illustrates toilet seat assembly  500  which includes seat  510 . Seat  510  is attached to curved supports  502  and  504 . The dashed lines indicate hollow interior cavity  506  within curved support  502  and hollow interior cavity  508  within curved support  504 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a close up of curved supports  502  and  504 , each including hollow interior cavity  506  and  508  respectively. Curved support  502  also includes opening  510  while curved support  504  includes opening  512 . Electrical wiring, tubes for transporting water, or tubes for transporting gases may be inserted through openings  510  and  512  and continue through hollow interior cavities  506  and  508 . In some embodiments, hollow interior cavities  506  and  508  may function as the tubes for transporting water or gases such that additional tubing is not needed. 
     The electrical wires may be connected to sensors used to detect the presence of a toilet user, such as proximity sensors, strain gauges, infrared sensors, or range finding sensors. Detection and bio sensors may be used such that a processing unit is capable of detecting when a user is sitting on the toilet and may automatically lower the toilet lid and flush the toilet upon a user removing his/herself from the toilet seat. The sensors may also be used such that a processing unit is capable of detecting when a user is approaching a toilet and the processor may raise the toilet lid in response as a means of preparing the toilet for use by the user. The sensors may also be used to detect when a user is preparing to urinate into the toilet while standing, and the processor may lift both the toilet lid and toilet seat in preparation. The seat sensors and bio sensors may be connected to a processor and a memory unit such that the processor can receive, save, and recall bio sensor data in order to identify a user whose bio data is saved in the memory unit. 
     The apparatuses disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.