Abstract:
A toilet seat and lid assembly comprising a toilet seat lid (also known as a cover) equipped with both fixed and movable grab area equipped with a lever or with a slide switch. The movable area of the grab or the slide switch integrates with the seat below through a latch. Lifting the lid by using the lever or sliding the switch, disconnects the lid from the seat and lifts only lid. Lifting the lid using the fixed grab area of the lid or without sliding the switch, does not disengage the seat and thus results in the lifting of the integrated seat and lid at the same time. Methods of using the same are also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/940,052, filed on Feb. 14, 2014, and entitled “Integrated Toilet Seat and Lid,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In this day and age, many people utilize toilets when eliminating bodily waste. During the proper use of the toilet, users may manipulate the toilet seat and/or lid depending on which type of waste they are eliminating, which gender they are, and whether a lid is present. In many cases, the user encounters a lid covering a seat, and the seat forming a ring around the toilet bowl. When necessary, for men and women in the case of bowel movements, and normally women only when solely urinating, a user generally sits on the toilet seat evacuating waste into the toilet bowl. Normally when men urinate, they do so standing up, directly into the bowl with the seat lifted to expose the entire bowl. If a lid is encountered, it must be lifted before the toilet can be used. 
     If the user is male and intends to urinate, if he encounters a toilet with both the lid and seat in the downward position, both components must be lifted. If the male user intends to use the toilet for a bowel movement, only the lid would require lifting to the upright position to expose the seat. If the lid and seat were both upright, when a male user approaches the toilet, he would only take action to lower the seat if he needs to eliminate bowel waste. 
     In the female scenario, since both uses of the toilet require sitting, if the user encountered the lid and seat in the downward position, she would need to lift only the lid to access the seat for sitting. If she encountered the seat and lid in the upward position, she would need to lower the seat prior to use. 
     Typically, toilet lids and seats are attached with hinges to the bowl at the back and pivot around these hinges to allow for moving of the lid and/or seat as needed in the scenarios described above. In most designs, when in the upright position away from the toilet bowl, the lid and/or the seat stays in this position, as it rests on the toilet tank. 
     Restrooms in general, and toilet seats in particular, are often unsanitary. This is so often the case that in many locations liners are supplied to eliminate direct contact between the body of the user and the seat. Many reasons exist to cause a very unsanitary seat, such as dirty water splashing on the seat during the toilet flush, prior users of a toilet having germs on their posterior, or even worse someone urinating on the seat by not bothering to lift it. As a matter of fact, the environment around a toilet seat can be so germ infested that the use of the lid is primarily recommended not for aesthetics but to minimize the spread of germs that might get airborne. 
     Although never touching anything in the restroom or on the toilet would be the best scenario, unfortunately the complex automation of mechanical devices that would be needed may be cost prohibitive to most people. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIGS. 1-6  show an embodiment of the present disclosure which utilizes a hook as the latching feature. In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the hook is attached to a lever that pivots in the lid and connects to a cooperable feature in the seat, depicted as a notch in this embodiment. This embodiment will be referred to as “the hook” in the remainder of this disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7-11  show an embodiment of the present disclosure which utilizes a magnetic attraction to selectively latch or unlatch the seat and the lid. This embodiment is referred to as “the magnet” in the remainder of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top down perspective view of a toilet seat lid and a toilet seat equipped with the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrates a side view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the hook embodiment of the present disclosure, where  FIG. 2B  is a magnified view. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a frontal view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. It is depicted with the lid down. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. It is depicted with the lever lifted, to disengage the seat. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. It is depicted with the lid returning to a horizontally disposed position. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a frontal perspective view of a toilet seat lid and a toilet seat equipped with the magnet embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a partially side view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the magnet embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a magnified cross section view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the magnet embodiment of the present disclosure. It is depicted with the lever portion of the lid magnetically latched to the seat. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a cross section view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the magnet embodiment of the present disclosure. It is depicted with the lever lifted disengaging the seat.  FIG. 10B  is the magnified view. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross section view of a toilet lid and toilet seat equipped with the magnet embodiment of the present disclosure. It is depicted with the lid partially raised up. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a cross section of another embodiment of the present disclosure, where a slider is used to actuate the latching mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a latching device integrated with a toilet seat and lid. Specifically, a latching device attaches the lid to the seat allowing them to be moved together, or separately allowing the movement of just the lid. Methods of using the same are further provided. In various embodiments, the operations of raising or lowering (collectively referred to as moving) the toilet lid and/or seat is done with nearly the same normal motion people currently use. For purposes of the present disclosure, it is assumed that male urination will be performed while standing up, with both the lid and seat in the upright position, away from the urine flow (herein referred to as “standing mode”). All other uses of the toilet to eliminate waste for men and women are assumed to be performed while sitting on the seat, with the lid raised against the toilet tank (herein referred to as “sitting mode”). 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a hook is molded into a lever that is hinged into the lid. The hook component of the lid engages a notch in the seat as the attachment method. When the lid is moved and the seat is in the engaged mode, both the lid and the seat are moved as a set. When the lever in the lid is lifted, this disengages the seat and only the lid is raised. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present disclosure also utilizes a lever hinged into the lid, which engages the seat. In this embodiment, however, the attachment method is magnetic. Either a magnet embedded into the lever attracts a magnetic element embedded in seat. Alternatively, the magnet could be embedded in the seat engaging a magnetic element embedded in the lever as the latching mechanism. Two magnets could be used as the attachment method embedded in the seat and the other in the lever, as long as these magnets were embedded in such a way as to ensure the polarity of the magnets is set to attract each other. In any case, the process of lifting the lever breaks the magnetic bond again allowing the lid to be raised without the seat. As in the first embodiment, lifting the lid without touching the lever part of the lid moves both the lid and the seat. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a top down perspective view of an integrated toilet seat and lid  100 , including a toilet lid  101  and seat  103 , which are coupled via hinges  104 . Lever  106  is attached to a hinge point in the lid  101 . This lever is positioned next to a fixed grab point  109  in the lid  101 . Not visible from this perspective is the hook portion of the lever  106 , which attaches to a notch in the side of the seat  103 , which is also not visible in this view. 
     For purposes of discussion, operation in both sitting and standing mode will assume that the lid  101  and seat  103  are starting from the horizontal position, as the proper use of the toilet involves returning the lid  101  to the horizontal position prior to flushing the waste away. This keeps toilet germs contained in the bowl area. To return the lid  101  (and seat  103  below if both are raised) to the horizontal position, the user need only to grab the lid  101  at grab point  109 . If the seat  103  is also upright, both will be moved when the lid  101  is lowered. 
     If a male approaches the toilet with the lid  101  and seat  103  both down in the horizontal position and needs to use the toilet in standing mode, he lifts the lid  101  at the fixed grab point  109 . Moving the lid  101  from this area keeps the seat  103  below attached, thus moving both elements of the toilet together, without touching the germ-infested seat  103 . This is because a hook component of the lever  106  is not disengaged when grabbing the lid  101  from area  109 . Details of this hook component of the lever  106  and how it engages the seat  103  are shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . 
     If a toilet user desires sitting mode, the lid  101  would be raised by lifting by the lid  101  at the lever  106 , or by using a finger on the lever  106  to raise it slightly while using the rest of the hand on the fixed grab point  109 . Lifting the lid  101  in this way disengages the hook from the notch in the seat  103  below, thus allowing for the seat  103  to remain on the toilet bowl when the lid  101  is lifted. It should be noted that lever  106  may include a stop feature that limits the travel to approximately 30 degrees as shown in call-out “A” in  FIG. 1 . 
     Moving on to  FIG. 2 , shown is a side view of the hook embodiment of the present disclosure with the lid  101  partially lifted. It also depicts a typical toilet comprising a bowl  203  and a tank  206 . Both the lid  101  and the seat  103  can move slightly more than 90 degrees around hinges  104 .  FIG. 2  shows the underside of the lever  106  comprising a hook  209 .  FIG. 2  also shows the notch  212  in the seat  103  where the hook attaches. It should be noted that the hook  209  could instead engage a bulge in the side of the seat  103  rather than a notch  212  in other embodiments. 
       FIG. 3  shows another perspective of the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically,  FIG. 3  illustrates the underside of the lid  101 , with a more clearly visible hook  209  of the lever  106  being visible.  FIG. 3  also identifies the skirt area  303  of the lid  101 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows a cross section of the integrated lid and seat  100 , with hook  209  engaged in the notch  212 .  FIG. 4B  shows an expanded view of this same cross section, with a hinge point  403  for the lever  106  being illustrated. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross section of the integrated lid and seat  100  in the hook embodiment of the present disclosure. It details the movement of the lever  106  around hinge point  403 , as the lever  106  would move when actuated with one or more fingers of the user during the lifting process for the lid  101  by itself. 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross section of the hook embodiment of the present disclosure, this time shown as the lid  101  is being returned to a horizontal position. The lid  103  then rests on the seat  103 , and the hook  209  will be engaging the seat  103 . It should be noted that the hook embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 1-6  may not include a spring. Depending on the materials utilized, their coefficient of friction, and manufacturing dimensions and/or tolerances, a spring may be employed to ensure the that the hook  209  is biased to the downward position, except when used as a lift point. Various types of springs and various locations for the spring may be employed. The magnetic embodiment depicted in the following figures is less likely to employ a spring as the force of the magnets should return the apparatus to the latched position. 
       FIGS. 7-11  show different perspectives of a magnet embodiment  700  of the present disclosure. Starting with  FIG. 7 , a frontal view is shown that highlights the elements of this embodiment. The magnet embodiment  700  operates in the same way as the hook embodiment. The difference is the method for attaching the lid  101  to the seat  103 . In this embodiment, the attachment method is magnetic. This magnetic attraction takes place at position  703 , when the lid  101  is resting on the seat  103 . The details of this attachment are more clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 9-11 .  FIG. 7  shows the skirt area  303  of the lid  101  having the lever  706 , this time with a magnetic component embedded at position  703 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a side/front perspective more clearly showing the grab point  109  of the lid  101 , lever  706 , positioned in an internal cavity  704  and the magnetic portion of the lever  706  at position  703 . Although the magnetic latch positioned in the skirt  303  ( FIG. 7 ) of the lid  101  is depicted, magnetic attachment may be used in other locations of the lid  101  and seat  103 . In some embodiments, electromagnets may be used, allowing for electronic engage or disengage mechanisms. 
       FIG. 9  shows a cross section of the lever  706  and seat  103  with a magnified view of the lever  706  area. This cross section shows the magnet at position  703  of the lever  706  magnetically attracted to the side of the toilet seat  103 . This attraction may be due to complementary magnetic pole elements or magnets at positions  903  and  703 . Where position  903  is embedded in or attached to the seat  103  attracting with the position  703  which may contain magnets or be manufactured with magnetic properties. This magnetic attraction may involve physical contact or just close proximity depending on the strength of the magnet used. 
     In one embodiment, the magnet is embedded in or attached to the side of the seat  103  as position  903 . This magnet would attract a magnetic component installed or molded under the surface of the lever  706  that comes in contact or very close to the seat magnetic element at position  703 . Another embodiment uses the opposite configuration, where the magnet is installed at position  703  attracting a magnetic element in the seat  103  at position  903 . In yet another embodiment, both positions  703  and  903  contain magnets set to attract each other. In addition, it is possible that the lever  706  and/or the seat  103  could be manufactured from materials that already contain magnetic properties. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a slightly magnified cross section of the lid  101  ( FIG. 7 ) and seat  103  with the disengagement of the magnetic attraction between the seat  103  and the lid  101  by means of raising the lever  706 .  FIG. 10B  shows this same view magnified even more. This would occur during the lifting process for using the toilet in standing mode as described above in connection with the hook embodiment. This view also shows the approximate travel of 30 degrees for the lever  706 , so that it can be used to easily lift the lid  103 , with or without holding part of the hand on the fixed grab area  109  of the lid  103  (not shown in this cross section). 
       FIG. 11  shows a cross section of the lid  101  and seat  103  with the lid  101  being raised, after the disengagement of the seat  103 . 
       FIG. 12  shows yet another embodiment  1200  according to the present disclosure. This includes the use of a slider  1203  moving inside a cavity  1206  in the lid  101 , thus inserting or retracting the latching member into or out of a notch  212  in seat  203 . In this embodiment, a spring  1209  is employed to bias the apparatus in the engaged position. A magnetic attachment method using a slide may also be utilized. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.