Patent Publication Number: US-6219854-B1

Title: Toilet seat lifting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to lifting devices and more particularly pertains to a new toilet seat lifting apparatus for lifting a toilet seat with a user&#39;s foot. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of lifting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, lifting devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,496; U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,595; U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,565; U.S. Pat. No. 621,790; U.S. Pat. No. 2,155,548; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 341,416. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new toilet seat lifting apparatus. The inventive device includes a toilet and a lifting means. The toilet has a bowl. A toilet seat is hingedly coupled to the top edge of the top section of the bowl. A lifting means for lifting the toilet seat has a base portion. The base portion has a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting on a floor surface adjacent to the toilet. A platform is hingedly connecting the platform to the base portion. A first rod is elongate, having a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The middle portion is coupled to the platform. A second rod is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second rod is hingedly coupled to the second end of the first rod. The second end of the second rod is coupled to the toilet seat. 
     In these respects, the toilet seat lifting apparatus according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of lifting a toilet seat with a user&#39;s foot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lifting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new toilet seat lifting apparatus construction wherein the same can be utilized for lifting a toilet seat with a user&#39;s foot. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the lifting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art lifting devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a toilet and a lifting means. The toilet has a bowl. A toilet seat is hingedly coupled to the top edge of the top section of the bowl. A lifting means for lifting the toilet seat has a base portion. The base portion has a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting on a floor surface adjacent to the toilet. A platform is hingedly connecting the platform to the base portion. A first rod is elongate, having a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The middle portion is coupled to the platform. A second rod is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second rod is hingedly coupled to the second end of the first rod. The second end of the second rod is coupled to the toilet seat. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the lifting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art lifting devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such toilet seat lifting apparatus economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus for lifting a toilet seat with a user&#39;s foot. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus which includes a toilet and a lifting means. The toilet has a bowl. A toilet seat is hingedly coupled to the top edge of the top section of the bowl. A lifting means for lifting the toilet seat has a base portion. The base portion has a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting on a floor surface adjacent to the toilet. A platform is hingedly connecting the platform to the base portion. A first rod is elongate, having a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The middle portion is coupled to the platform. A second rod is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second rod is hingedly coupled to the second end of the first rod. The second end of the second rod is coupled to the toilet seat. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus that has an adjustable stop on the second rod to allow for variance in toilet height. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet seat lifting apparatus that extends beyond the toilet so that the first rod may be depressed with a foot while the toilet is being used. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new toilet seat lifting apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the first and second brackets of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the first rod being coupled to the plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hinge of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the connection of the first and second rods of the hinge of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new toilet seat lifting apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the toilet seat lifting apparatus  10  generally comprises a toilet  12  and a lifting device  30 . The toilet  12  has a bowl  14 . The bowl  14  portion has a top section  16  and a base section  18 . The bowl  14  has a distal end  20 , a proximal  22  and a middle portion  24 . 
     A toilet seat  26  is hingedly coupled to a top edge of the top section  16  of the bowl  14 . The toilet seat  26  is hingedly coupled to the distal end  20  of the bowl. 
     A lifting means  30  lifts the toilet seat  26 . The lifting means  30  first comprises a base portion  32  having a top surface  34  and a bottom surface  36  for mounting on a floor surface adjacent to the toilet  12 . The base portion  32  is generally planar and has a generally rectangular shape. The base portion  32  is located generally adjacent to the middle portion  24  of the bowl  14 . 
     A plurality of securing means  38  secures the base portion  32  to a floor. The plurality of securing means  38  comprises four securing fasteners. Each of the securing fasteners extends through the base portion  32  and into the floor. Each of the securing means  38  is located generally adjacent to a corner of the base portion  32  and each of the securing means comprising a screw. 
     A platform  40  is generally planar having a top surface  42  and a bottom surface  44 . The platform  40  has a generally rectangular shape. 
     A hinge  46  hingedly connects the platform  40  to the base  32  portion. The hinge  46  is generally U-shaped having two legs  48 ,  50  and middle portion  52 . The two legs define a V-shaped space. A pair of plates  54  reinforce the hinge and are embedded in the hinge  46 . Each of the plates  54  is in one of the legs  48 ,  50 . A first of the legs  48  is fastened to the top surface  34  of the base portion  32  by a fastening means  56 . The fastening means  56  is a screw. The middle portion  52  of the hinge  46  is directed toward the distal end  20  of the bowl  14 . 
     A coupling means  58  couples the platform  40  to a second leg  50  of the hinge  46 . The coupling means  58  has a first end  59  and a second end  60 . The first end  59  is threaded. The first end  59  is inserted through the platform  40  and through the second leg  50  such that the bottom surface  44  of the platform  40  is abutted against the second leg  50  of the hinge  46 . The second end  60  of the coupling means  58  forms an annular member. 
     A first elongate rod  62  has a first end  63 , a second end  64  and a middle portion  65 . The rod  62  extends through the annular member  60 . The first rod  62  has a bend  66  therein, which is generally adjacent to the first end  63 . The bend  66  is substantially equal to ninety degrees such that the first end  63  extends away from the bowl  14 . The second end  64  of the first rod  62  is generally between the distal end  20  of the bowl and the base portion  32 . The proximal end  22  of the base  18  of the toilet  12  is between the bend  66  in the first rod  62  and base portion  32 . 
     A second elongate rod  67  has a first end  68  and a second end  69 . The first end  68  of the second rod  67  and the second end  64  of the first rod  62  each has a bore therethrough. A pin  70  extends through the bores such that the first  62  and second  67  rods are pivotally coupled together. The second rod  67  has an outer surface having threads  71  thereon. The threads  71  are generally adjacent to the second end  69  of the second rod  67 . 
     A first bracket  72  is generally L-shaped and has a foot portion  73  and an arm portion  74 . The foot portion  73  has a bore therein. The second end  69  of the second rod  67  is inserted through the bore in the foot portion  73  of the first bracket  72  such that the arm portion  74  of the first bracket  72  is directed upwardly away from the second rod  67 . The arm portion  74  has a bore therein. 
     A first  75  and second  76  stop hold the first bracket  72  with respect to the second rod  67 . The first stop  75  is located on the second rod  67  between the foot  73  of the first bracket  72  and the first end  68  of the second rod  67 . The second stop  76  is located on the second rod  67  between the foot  73  and the second end  69  of the second bracket  67 . Each of the stops is a nut. 
     A second bracket  77  has a shape generally identical to the first bracket. The foot  78  of the second bracket  77  has two bores therein, and the arm  79  of the second bracket  77  has a bore therein. The arm  79  of the second bracket  77  is rotatably coupled to the arm  74  of the first bracket  72 . The foot  78  of the second bracket  77  is removably coupled to a bottom surface of the toilet seat  26 . The second bracket  77  is generally adjacent to the distal end  20  of the bowl  14 . 
     In use, the foot  78  of the second bracket  77  is coupled to the bottom surface of the distal end of the toilet seat  26 . The first end of the first rod  63  is placed beyond the proximal end  22  of the toilet  12  so that the user may step on the first end of the first rod  62  while in the process of using the toilet. When the user is finished, the rod is released and the toilet seat returns to its resting position. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.