Abstract:
Disclosed is a hinge assembly for connecting a toilet seat and cover to a rearward extension behind a toilet bowl. Two base members are permanently affixed to the extension in spaced fashion. Two hinge support members are provided to snap connect to the base members by virtue of flexible tabs on the base members interconnecting with side wall holes on the hinge supports. The hinge supports, seat and cover can be removed from the extension by squeezing the sides of the hinge support members, leaving only the bases attached to the extension. This facilitates cleaning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to hinges for mounting toilet seats and/or covers to the top of rearward extensions of toilets. More particularly it relates to such hinge assemblies that permit most of the assembly parts to be readily removed from the toilet to facilitate cleaning.  
         [0004]     In designing toilet hinge assemblies, it is preferred to design systems that can easily be installed by untrained consumers. Thus, many such hinge assemblies pre-assemble the hinge to the seat and cover, and then affix the assembly via hinge posts to a rearward extension of a toilet 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 or similar device is then screwed onto the fastener from underneath the rearward extension to clamp the assembly to the extension.  
         [0005]     Since the consumer may need access to the underside of the extension to adjust the nut during assembly or removal, and in any event the assembly or removal can require tools in some of these designs, these assemblies are intended to be essentially permanently affixed (with perhaps an occasional tightening if the seat works its way loose). This can create a problem because the area around such hinge posts (behind and under the cover and seat) can be difficult to completely clean. 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. See also GB 2,280,219 A.  
         [0007]     These systems do achieve better cleaning by leaving only small hinge posts essentially permanently affixed to the bowl rearward extension, 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 hinge 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.  
         [0009]     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.  
         [0010]     Hence, it can be seen that a need still exists for an improved toilet seat hinge assembly, particularly one which facilitates removal of the seat and cover for cleaning purposes.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention provides a hinge assembly for linking a toilet covering element (e.g. a toilet seat, a toilet cover, or a toilet seat/cover combination) to a rearward portion of the toilet. The preferred mounting location is a horizontal upwardly facing surface of a rearward extension of a toilet bowl.  
         [0012]     The hinge assembly has a base member adapted to be mounted adjacent the rearward portion of the toilet. A base member has a flexible projection extending there from (preferably outwardly there from). There is also a fastener (preferably a bolt) extendable through the base member for fastening the base member to the rearward portion of the toilet.  
         [0013]     The hinge support member is adapted to support the toilet seat/cover, preferably in a pivotable fashion. This can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, it can be achieved via an essentially horizontally extending pin which forms a pivot axis for the seat and cover (compare pin 64 in U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,548), or via a more complex dash pot type pin (compare U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,869).  
         [0014]     Typically, such seats and covers both have a pair of spaced rearwardly extending ears, with cross holes extending through or at least into all of the ears. For example, one of the pins from the present invention can extend through a seat left rear ear and then into a cover left rear ear. Another of the pins can extend through a cover right rear ear and into a seat right rear ear.  
         [0015]     In any event, the hinge support member has a side wall with an opening therein. Preferably, it has two opposed side walls separated by an internal downwardly open cavity, with both of the side walls having such side wall openings.  
         [0016]     The hinge support member can be positioned such that the base member projection extends into a hinge support member side wall opening to thereby link them together. Thereafter, the projection can be flexed inwardly to facilitate disconnection of the hinge support member from the base when such disconnection is desired.  
         [0017]     When there are two such base member projections which interfit with the two side wall openings, squeezing opposed sides of the base member by contact with the opposed projections will facilitate the release.  
         [0018]     The base member can have a vertical through hole. When it does, the fastener is preferably a bolt extendable through the vertical through hole. There is also then a nut positionable on the bolt underneath the rearward extension.  
         [0019]     When the hinge support member has an internal downwardly open cavity, that cavity can also be in communication with an upward opening. In such an embodiment there is a pivotable cover for covering and uncovering the upward opening.  
         [0020]     This assembly permits two small base members to be essentially permanently attached to the bowl rearward extension, at separated positions. When no seat or other hinge parts are present, this permits the rear area of the bowl top to be easily and effectively cleaned.  
         [0021]     One can then take a pre-assembled seat/cover/two hinge support assembly and snap two hinge supports down over the base supports, thereby fixing the hinge supports (and thus the seat and cover) to the bowl rearward extension. The toilet seat and cover can then pivot in the usual fashion as needed.  
         [0022]     When removal of the main parts of the assembly is desired for cleaning, one may squeeze both sides of both bases through the hinge support side wall holes. The flexibility of the projections allows them to deflect inwardly in response to this force (and out of an interfering position). This permits everything but the base members, nuts and bolts to be vertically lifted up away from the toilet.  
         [0023]     Re-assembly is even easier. One merely needs to align the hinge supports over the base members and push the hinge supports down onto the base members until the projections lock to the hinge supports.  
         [0024]     It will be appreciated that the hinge 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.  
         [0025]     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.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment, the hinge support member always shrouds the base. Thus, to tighten or remove the fastener the hinge support member is removed.  
         [0027]     However, in another embodiment the hinge support member has a pivotable cover which when open provides access to the top of the fastener. In this embodiment, the entire assembly can be removed as a unit, or installed as a unit.  
         [0028]     In another aspect the invention provides another hinge assembly for linking a toilet covering element to a rearward portion of the toilet. The assembly has a base member adapted to be mounted adjacent the rearward portion of the toilet, the base member having a side opening therein, a fastener extendable through the base member for fastening the base member to the rearward portion of the toilet, and a hinge support member adapted to support the toilet covering element, the hinge support member having a flexible projection extending there from.  
         [0029]     The hinge support member of this embodiment is selectively positionable so that its flexible projection can be received in the base member side opening to couple the hinge support member to the base member. Further, the hinge support member is coupled to the base member, the projection is flexible outwardly to selectively disconnect the hinge support member from the base member.  
         [0030]     It will be appreciated that the present invention permits rapid assembly and disassembly of the main cover elements from the top of the toilet, without the use of special tools, and without the need for complex 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 judge the full scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view showing two hinge assemblies of the present invention mounted on a toilet bowl rear extension;  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged detail perspective view of region  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 , without the hinge pins, seat or cover being shown;  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 4  hinge assembly, once the hinge support has been mounted on the base;  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is an exploded schematic view depicting how, after the  FIG. 6  support cover has been closed, the seat and main cover could be mounted thereto; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment where the hinge support has an integral mounting pin. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a toilet assembly includes a conventional toilet bowl  16  provided with the usual seat  10  and cover  11 . The seat  10  and cover  11  each include the usual rearwardly projecting ears  45  and  46  which extend over a rearward extension  15  of the toilet bowl  16 . The ears  45 / 46  each include a horizontal through bore  33 / 34  for receiving a horizontally extending mounting pin to pivotally mount the seat and cover for pivoting along a horizontal axis defined by hinge assemblies (generally  23 ).  
         [0040]     Referring now also to  FIG. 3 , the rearward extension  15  of the toilet bowl has the usual top surface  17 , through which vertical through holes  18  are formed to receive bolts  12  for mounting the hinge assemblies  23  to the toilet bowl  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the two hinge assemblies  23  each include a base member  20  and a hinge support member  30 . The base members  20  have a vertical through hole  21  which opens at its top into an enlarged recess  22 . The bolts  12  are inserted through the holes  21  so that the heads  38  of the bolts  12  rest in the recesses  22  while lower portions  40  of the bolts extend down through the through holes  18  in the extension  15 .  
         [0041]     The lower portions  40  of the bolts  12  are threaded in the usual fashion so that nuts  13  can be threaded onto them with or without a washer to clamp the bases  20  in place. It should be appreciated that this is a relatively permanent connection as a tool would normally be needed to facilitate the removal.  
         [0042]     The bases  20  each have two side walls  26  and  27  which are made flexible relative to the bottom walls  24  of the bases  20 . Further, the side walls  26  and  27  each have outwardly extending projections  25 . The projections  25  extend slightly farther outward than the side walls  26  and  27 .  
         [0043]     Each hinge support member  30  includes a front wall  36 , two opposed side walls  37  and  38 , and a rear wall  39 . The side walls have side openings  41  and  42  which preferably have a corresponding cross section (e.g. contoured triangular) which matches that of the base projections  25 .  
         [0044]     The walls  36 ,  37 ,  38 , and  39  of each hinge support member  30  define an internal, downwardly open cavity  49 , sized and dimensioned to allow a support member  30  to be slid over and to surround a base member  20 . As the walls  36 ,  37 ,  38 , and  39  are slid over a base  20 , projections  25  are forced to flex inwardly until they align with the side openings  41  and  42 .  
         [0045]     As will be evident from  FIG. 5 , when the projections  25  align with the openings  41  and  42 , the projections  25  snap into the side openings  41  and  42  to “lock” the hinge support member  30  to the base member  20 , and thus lock the hinge support member  30  to the toilet bowl  16 .  
         [0046]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the hinge assemblies  23  can each also include a top wall  40  including an opening  44  which, when present, is preferably aligned with the head  38  of the bolt  12  so that the bolt  12  can be accessed without removing the hinge support  30 . The hinge assemblies  23  can also include a pivotable cover  50 , which can be, as shown, formed integral with the hinge support  30  or, alternatively, as a separate piece anchored via legs (not shown). The cover  50  can be selectively positioned to cover ( FIG. 2 ) or uncover ( FIG. 6 ) the opening  44 .  
         [0047]     The hinge assemblies  23  each include a horizontal raised structure  31  which facilitates the coupling of the seat  10 , the cover  11 , or both, to the toilet bowl  16 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the horizontal raised structure  31  can be a hollow cylinder into which a dash pot cylinder  42  is positioned to damp motion of the seat  10  and cover  11  when released. The dash pot  42  extends through the hole  34  provided in the mounting tab  45  in the cover  11 , and through the cylindrical horizontal raised structure  31 .  
         [0048]     The dash pot  42  may further include an extending pin section  44  that is received in the hole  33  in the seat  10  to couple the seat  10  and cover  11  to the hinge assembly  23 , thereby forming a subassembly which can be removed from the toilet bowl  16 , as described below. As shown, the hole  33  and extending pin  44  are shaped and dimensioned to provide a mounting socket or receptacle.  
         [0049]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in an alternative embodiment, the horizontal raised structure  31  can be integrally formed with a pin  32  that can be used to mount the seat  10  and/or cover  11  through the mounting holes  33  and  34 . The pin  32  provides for horizontal pivoting of the seat  10  and/or cover  11  about an axis defined through the holes  33  and  34 . The pin  32  can also be provided as a separate structure shaped and dimensioned to insert into an aperture in the horizontal structure, or be provided as a combination of both integral and separate pins.  
         [0050]     Regardless of the form of the horizontal structure  31 , the hinge support members  30  connect the associated cover  10  and seat  11  to the base members  20 . To provide the connection, the support members  30  are moved vertically down over the base member  20  until the walls of the hinge support members  30  shroud the base member  20 , as described above.  
         [0051]     The hinge support member  30  can be selectively disconnected from the base member  20  by squeezing the side walls  37  and  38  of the hinge support members  30  inward through the openings to drive the projections  25  out of the side wall openings  41  and  42  of the hinge support member  30 . After the hinge support member  30  is unlocked from the base member  20 , the subassembly including the seat  10 , cover  11  and hinge support members  30 , can be lifted from the toilet bowl  16  to facilitate cleaning.  
         [0052]     While preferred embodiments have been shown, a wide variety of changes can be made to them without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the pins on the hinge supports can point towards each other, or away from each other, or both ways, depending on the configuration of the rear attachment ears extending from the cover and seat. Additionally, although the hinge assembly is described as having openings in the hinge support and projections in the base member, it will be apparent that this configuration could be reversed, such that the projection is provided in the hinge support and the opening in the base member.  
         [0053]     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).  
         [0054]     Thus, the claims should be looked at in order to judge the full scope of the invention.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0055]     The present invention provides a hinge assembly suitable to attach a toilet seat and/or cover to a toilet.