Abstract:
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a device to enable a user to move a toilet seat from an up position to a down position. The device includes a connection mechanism to connect the device to the toilet seat, a handle, and a pivoting assembly, coupled to the connection mechanism and the handle, to permit the handle to pivot relative to the toilet seat.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Usually, in order to pick up a toilet seat, a person will stoop almost in half, hook a finger under a sometimes unfamiliar and suspicious seat, and slowly lift the seat. While in this bent position, the person may move forward, in an effort to place the seat into its resting position against the back toilet tank. Likewise, when a toilet seat goes down, it must be guided carefully the whole way, lest it bang down. Thus, a person&#39;s body slowly folds with the seat until the seat finally rests on the toilet rim. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating adjustment of a toilet seat.  
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of a device to adjust the position of a toilet seat.  
         [0004]      FIGS. 3-5  are schematic views of a device to adjust the position of a toilet seat. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0005]     Disclosed herein is a device that allows people to adjust toilet seats between the up and down seat positions with minimal effort. The device enables a person to position the toilet seat with dignity, comfort and with a great sense of cleanliness. Additionally, by eliminating or reducing bending and reaching, the device can assist those with limited range of movement and those who experience pain from such motions. Further, through its ease of use, the device can facilitate an end to conflicts over seat position.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates operation of the device after being attached to a toilet seat  102   a . As shown, the device includes a handle  120  and an assembly that enables the handle  120  to pivot relative to the seat  102  (i.e., the angle formed by the handle  120  and the seat  102  varies). Manipulation of the handle (from  120   a  to  120   b ) repositions the seat from the down position  120   a  to the up position  102   b . When the toilet seat is down  102   a , the handle  120   a  extends upward to the hand for ready lifting. When the toilet seat is up  102   b , the handle  120   b  extends out, almost parallel to the floor, in excellent position for easy gripping. The extent that the handle  120  extends from the seat  102  may be adjusted and permits tailoring of the device to a person&#39;s individual needs. The device permits the seat  102  to be guided up and down with a simple wrist motion while the person remains in an upright position.  
         [0007]     As an example of device operation, to move the seat from the down  102   a  to up  102   b  position, a person can slightly lift a knob or other grip atop the handle  120   a . This lifting causes the handle  120   a  to being pivoting relative to the seat  102 . This initial momentum and change in the handle  120 /seat  102  angle enables a minimal handle push of the handle to rest the seat  102  against the toilet tank.  
         [0008]     To move the seat from the up  102   b  to down  102   a  position, a person can gently tug the handle  120   b  grip. This causes the seat  102  to begin to fall. This fall, however, is moderated by operation of the handle. That is, the seat  102  can only fall at the rate permitted by a person&#39;s manipulation of the handle  120 .  
         [0009]     In both cases, a person can quickly and intuitively adjust the seat  102  with a minimum of effort. In practice, the reduction in the effort of moving the seat  102  and the elimination of the distastefulness of touching the seat  102  can result in greater vigilance in returning the seat  102  to an agreed upon position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the device in greater detail. As shown, the device includes a connecting plate  110  or other connection mechanism (e.g., adhesives or a clip) to attach the device to a toilet set. The connecting plate  110  shown includes pre-drilled holes sized to permit screws to attach the plate  110  to the underside of a toilet seat  102 .  
         [0011]     Attached to the connecting plate  110  may be an extension  114  that leads away from the seat  102  and separates the handle  120  from the seat by a distance between one and twelve inches (e.g., between 7 and 8 inches). The extension  114  reduces a sense of claustrophobia, provides a seated user with a wide range of motion, and prevents the device from touching and annoying the user.  
         [0012]     As shown, the extension  114  may be configured to dip down almost immediately after its connection with the connecting plate  110 . The dip in this case is approximately 2 inches, but could vary. This dip can help prevent contact between the extension  114  and the thigh of the user on the seat. The extension  114  may angle back up again so that the distant portion of the device is approximately at the same height or higher than connecting plate  110 .  
         [0013]     At the end of the extension  114  is an assembly  116  that permits the handle  120  to pivot relative to the seat  102 . The assembly may use a variety of pivoting mechanisms (e.g., ball and socket joint). In the implementation shown, a round hole is bored into the assembly  116  and, potentially, the end of the extension  114 . A rod  122  is inserted into the hole such that the rod  122  can freely rotate.  
         [0014]     To restrict rotation of the rod  122 , a groove  124  may be cut into the assembly  116 . In some implementations, the handle will be inserted into the rod  122  in the space provided by the groove  124 . In the implementation shown, a retaining pin  118  may be connected to the portion of the rod  122  located within the groove  124 . The pin  118  has a length that exceeds the diameter of the rod  122  and is inserted through the center of the rod at an angle normal to the rod  122  surface. While the groove  124  walls do not directly restrict rotation of the rod  122 , rotating the rod  122  far enough in either direction causes the pin  118  to be restrained from further rotation, by the groove  124  walls. The groove  124  illustrated permits approximately 80 degrees of rotation.  
         [0015]     As shown, a handle rod  120  may be attached to rotating rod  122 . The handle rod  120  illustrated is approximately 12 inches, but different lengths are possible. Where the handle rod  120  attaches to the rotating rod  122 , a mechanism (e.g., a screw) permits adjustment of the handle rod  120  upward or downward, in relation to the end of the rod  122 . This feature permits the user to tailor the height of the handle  120  for maximum convenience (e.g., a taller person may prefer a longer distance between a knob at the end of the handle rod  120  and the rotating rod  122 ). At the end of the handle rod  120  is a knob or other grip which is easy to hold and manipulate with one&#39;s hand. For example, the grip may be constructed from a dowel to form a “T” at the top of the handle. For instance, a hole may be bored through the top of the handle rod  120  to hold the dowel while permitting free rotation of the dowel.  
         [0016]     When the seat is down  102 , the handle rod  120  may be rotated to the extent allowed by the groove  124 , such that the handle rod  120  is standing up, yet leaning slightly back toward the toilet tank. Thus, the resting position for the handle rod  120  is almost vertical. The user picks up the seat  102  by grabbing the handle (e.g., by a handle  120  grip) lifting slightly with the arm, and then, with a wrist motion, using the handle rod  120  to push the seat  102  away as it rises. With the seat  102  in its lifted position, the handle rod  120  is at its resting point. The handle  120  extends toward the user at an approximately 30 degrees angle to the floor. The handle is approximately 19 inches higher than the toilet rim, and approximately 8 inches to the side. The seat can now easily be lowered.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 3-5  provide different schematic views of the device. In particular,  FIG. 3  depicts a view from above, and shows the installation of the device on the underside of a toilet seat  102 . As shown, the connecting plate  110  is attached to the seat  102  at the approximate mid-point between the front and back of the seat  102 , so that it extends approximately perpendicularly away from the toilet seat, at the seat&#39;s  102  side.  
         [0018]     While described above with reference to a particular implementation, a wide variety of other implementations may use techniques described above. For example, instead of being attached to a toilet seat, a seat  102  integrating the device may be produced. Additionally, a wide variety of other implementations may be used to enable the handle to pivot relative to the seat.  
         [0019]     Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.