Patent Publication Number: US-2023140484-A1

Title: Toilet Seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202122615796.X, filed in the Chinese Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 28, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of toilet technologies, and more particularly, to a toilet seat. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A toilet seat of a toilet is usually formed by connecting upper and lower covers, and a cavity is formed between the upper and lower covers to reduce structural weight and save material cost. 
     In the toilet, the upper and lower covers are usually connected by means of screw or gluing. When connecting the upper and lower covers with screws, many screws need to be punched around the inner and outer peripheries of the upper and lower covers, and the operation is cumbersome. When connecting the upper and lower covers with glue, it is necessary to set a wide gluing platform on the upper and lower covers, which requires a lot of materials and reduces the cavity between the upper and lower covers. Moreover, as time goes by, the glue may age, causing cracks between the upper and lower covers of the toilet seat and even causing the upper and lower covers to separate from each other. 
     In view of this, it is necessary to provide a toilet seat which is convenient to be assembled and is stable in structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure aims to provide a toilet seat, which is convenient to be assembled and is stable in structure. 
     The present disclosure provides a toilet seat, comprising a seat lower cover and a seat upper cover mounted on the seat lower cover. 
     The seat lower cover comprises a lower cover baseplate with a lower cover through hole, a lower cover outer periphery boss surrounding an inner side of an outside edge of the lower cover baseplate, and a lower cover inner periphery boss surrounding an outer side of the lower cover through hole. 
     The seat upper cover comprises an upper cover baseplate with an upper cover through hole. The seat upper cover further comprises an upper cover outer periphery flange extending downwardly from an outside edge of the upper cover baseplate. The seat upper cover further comprises an upper cover inner periphery flange extending downwardly from an edge of the upper cover through hole. The seat upper cover further comprises an upper cover outer periphery boss surrounding an inner side of the upper cover outer periphery flange. The seat upper cover further comprises an upper cover inner periphery boss surrounding an outer side of the upper cover inner periphery flange. 
     The upper cover inner periphery boss is welded with the lower cover inner periphery boss, the upper cover outer periphery boss is welded with the lower cover outer periphery boss, and the upper cover outer periphery flange and the upper cover inner periphery flange are contacted with the lower cover baseplate respectively. 
     In one embodiment, the upper cover outer periphery boss is provided with a plurality of outer periphery boss recesses at intervals. 
     In one embodiment, the upper cover inner periphery boss is provided with a plurality of inner periphery boss recesses at intervals. 
     In one embodiment, an outer periphery flashing groove is formed between the upper cover outer periphery boss and the upper cover outer periphery flange. 
     In one embodiment, an inner periphery flashing groove is formed between the upper cover inner periphery boss and the upper cover inner periphery flange. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of first reinforcing ribs are connected between the upper cover outer periphery boss and the upper cover outer periphery flange. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of second reinforcing ribs are connected between the upper cover inner periphery boss and the upper cover inner periphery flange. 
     In one embodiment, a width of the lower cover inner periphery boss is greater than a width of the upper cover inner periphery boss, and a width of the lower cover outer periphery boss is greater than a width of the upper cover outer periphery boss. 
     In one embodiment, the upper cover outer periphery flange, the upper cover inner periphery flange, the upper cover outer periphery boss and the upper cover inner periphery boss are integrally formed with the upper cover baseplate respectively. 
     In one embodiment, the lower cover outer periphery boss and the lower cover inner periphery boss are integrally formed with the lower cover baseplate respectively. 
     By adopting the foregoing technical solutions, the following beneficial effects can be achieved. 
     According to the toilet seat provided by the present disclosure, the upper cover inner periphery boss and the upper cover outer periphery boss are arranged on the upper cover, the lower cover inner periphery boss and the lower cover outer periphery boss are arranged on the lower cover, the upper cover inner periphery boss is welded with the lower cover inner periphery boss, and the upper cover outer periphery boss is welded with the lower cover outer periphery boss. Thus, the toilet seat is convenient to be assembled and is stable in structure through welded connection, so that a product quality is improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded view of a toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of a seat upper cover; 
         FIG.  3    is a sectional view of the toilet seat; 
         FIG.  4    is a partial enlarged view of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a sectional view of the seat upper cover; 
         FIG.  6    is a sectional view of a seat lower cover; 
         FIG.  7    is an enlarged view of region A in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged view of region B in  FIG.  2   ; and 
         FIG.  9    is a flow chart of a method for assembling the toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The specific embodiments of the present disclosure are further described with reference to the drawings hereinafter. Same or equivalent parts are denoted by same reference numerals. It should be noted that the terms “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “up”, and “down” used in the following description refer to the directions in the accompanying drawings, and the terms “inner” and “outer” refer to the directions toward or far away from geometric center of a specific part respectively. 
       FIG.  1    is an exploded view of a toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;  FIG.  2    is a front view of a seat upper cover;  FIG.  3    is a sectional view of the toilet seat;  FIG.  4    is a partial enlarged view of  FIG.  3   ;  FIG.  5    is a sectional view of the seat upper cover; and  FIG.  6    is a sectional view of a seat lower cover. As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 6   , a toilet seat provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a seat lower cover  1  and a seat upper cover  2  mounted on the seat lower cover  1 . 
     The seat lower cover  1  comprises a lower cover baseplate  11  with a lower cover through hole  110 , a lower cover outer periphery boss  14  surrounding an inner side of an outside edge of the lower cover baseplate  11 , and a lower cover inner periphery boss  15  surrounding an outer side of the lower cover through hole  110 . 
     The seat upper cover  2  comprises an upper cover baseplate  21  with an upper cover through hole  210 . The seat upper cover  2  further comprises an upper cover outer periphery flange  22  extending downwardly from an outside edge of the upper cover baseplate  21 . The seat upper cover  2  further comprises an upper cover inner periphery flange  23  extending downwardly from an edge of the upper cover through hole  210 . The seat upper cover  2  further comprises an upper cover outer periphery boss  24  surrounding an inner side of the upper cover outer periphery flange  22 . The seat upper cover  2  further comprises an upper cover inner periphery boss  25  surrounding an outer side of the upper cover inner periphery flange  23 . 
     The upper cover inner periphery boss  25  is welded with the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 , the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  is welded with the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 , and the upper cover outer periphery flange  22  and the upper cover inner periphery flange  23  are contacted with the lower cover baseplate  11  respectively. 
     The toilet seat provided by this embodiment is a part of a toilet. The toilet seat comprises the seat lower cover  1  and the seat upper cover  2 . The seat upper cover  2  and the seat lower cover  1  are in welded connection. 
     The seat lower cover  1  comprises the lower cover baseplate  11 , and the lower cover baseplate  11  is provided with the lower cover through hole  110 . A top surface of the lower cover baseplate  11  is provided with the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 . The lower cover outer periphery boss  14  is located at an inner side of an outside edge or an outside contour of the lower cover baseplate  11 , and the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  is a convex ring with a closed-loop structure. An annular outer periphery platform  12  is formed between the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  and the outside edge or the outside contour of the lower cover baseplate  11 . The lower cover inner periphery boss  15  is located at the outer side of the lower cover through hole  110  and surrounds a periphery of the lower cover through hole  110 . The lower cover inner periphery boss  15  is a convex ring with a closed-loop structure. An annular inner periphery platform  13  is formed between the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  and the edge or the contour of the lower cover through hole  110 . 
     The seat upper cover  2  comprises the upper cover baseplate  21 , and the upper cover baseplate  21  is provided with the upper cover through hole  210 . When the seat upper cover  2  is mounted on the seat lower cover  1 , the lower cover through hole  110  is butted with the upper cover through hole  210  to form a seat through hole. The upper cover outer periphery flange  22  extends downwardly from the outside edge or outside contour of the upper cover baseplate  21 , and the upper cover outer periphery flange  22  has a closed-loop structure. The upper cover inner periphery flange  23  extends downwardly from the edge of the upper cover through hole  210 , and the upper cover inner periphery flange  23  also has a closed-loop structure. The upper cover outer periphery boss  24  surrounds the inner side of the upper cover outer periphery flange  22 , and the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  is a convex ring with a closed-loop structure. The upper cover inner periphery boss  25  surrounds the outer side of the upper cover inner periphery flange  23 , and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  is also a convex ring with a closed-loop structure. 
     The toilet seat is a plastic part. Therefore, the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 , the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 , the upper cover outer periphery boss  24 , and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  are all plastic parts and may be connected by welding. In other words, the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 , the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 , the upper cover outer periphery boss  24 , and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  are all welded ribs or welded convex rings. 
     When the toilet seat is assembled, the seat lower cover  1  and the seat upper cover  2  are connected and fixed by a welding process. The welding process may be a laser welding process, e.g., a friction welding process. When the toilet seat is assembled, the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  is butted and welded with the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 , and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  is butted and welded with the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 . After welding, the upper cover outer periphery flange  22  is at least partially overlapped or disposed on the outer periphery platform  12 , and the upper cover inner periphery flange  23  is at least partially overlapped or disposed on the inner periphery platform  13 , which is convenient for assembly and improves the connection stability of the seat lower cover  1  and the seat upper cover  2 . 
       FIG.  7    is an enlarged view of region A in  FIG.  2   . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  7   , the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  is provided with a plurality of outer periphery boss recesses  241  at intervals, which reduce a surface size of the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and facilitate plastic deformation of the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  during welding, so as to be in welded connection with the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 . 
       FIG.  8    is an enlarged view of region B in  FIG.  2   . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  8   , the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  is provided with a plurality of inner periphery boss recesses  251  at intervals, which reduce a surface size of the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and facilitate plastic deformation of the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  during welding, so as to be in welded connection with the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 . 
     Widths of the outer periphery boss recess  241  and the inner periphery boss recess  251  may be approximately 1.0 mm, and depths thereof may be approximately 0.5 mm. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , an outer periphery flashing groove  26  is formed between the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the upper cover outer periphery flange  22 . Flash overflow produced when welding the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  may flow into the outer periphery flashing groove  26 . Thus, good welding quality may be ensured and bad product appearance caused by the flash overflow exposure may be avoided. 
     A cross-sectional area of the outer periphery flashing groove  26  is greater than or equal to 70% of a cross-sectional area of the upper cover outer periphery boss  24 , so as to leave enough flashing space. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , an inner periphery flashing groove  27  is formed between the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the upper cover inner periphery flange  23 . Flash overflow produced when welding the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  may flow into the inner periphery flashing groove  27 . Thus, good welding quality may be ensured and bad product appearance caused by the flash overflow exposure may be avoided. 
     A cross-sectional area of the inner periphery flashing groove  27  is greater than or equal to 70% of a cross-sectional area of the upper cover inner periphery boss  25 , so as to leave enough flashing space. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  7   , a plurality of first reinforcing ribs  28  are connected between the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the upper cover outer periphery flange  22 . Thus, a structural strength of the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  may be improved, and the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  may be prevented from shaking and misaligning with the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  during a welding operation. 
     In one embodiment, each first reinforcing rib  28  is flush, leveled, or aligned with the upper cover outer periphery boss  24 , and the first reinforcing rib  28  also participates in welding and melting. Thus, welded connection strength may be improved. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  8   , a plurality of second reinforcing ribs  29  are connected between the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the upper cover inner periphery flange  23 . Thus, a structural strength of the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  may be improved, and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  may be prevented from shaking and misaligning with the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  during a welding operation. 
     In one embodiment, each second reinforcing rib  29  is flush, leveled, or aligned with the upper cover inner periphery boss  25 , and the second reinforcing rib  29  also participates in welding and melting. Thus, welded connection strength may be improved. 
     Widths of the first reinforcing rib  28  and the second reinforcing rib  29  may be approximately 1.0-1.2 mm, and intervals thereof may be approximately 5 mm. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS.  4 - 6   , a width of the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  is greater than that of the upper cover inner periphery boss  25 . Thus, butted welding between the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  may be facilitated to form a wider welding surface, so as to improve a welded connection strength between the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 . 
     A width of the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  is greater than that of the upper cover outer periphery boss  24 . Thus, butted welding between the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  may be facilitated to form a wider welding surface, so as to improve a welded connection strength between the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 . 
     Specifically, the widths of the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  may be approximately 2.0 mm, while the widths of the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  may be approximately 3.0 mm After welding, a welding surface with a width of approximately 2.0-2.5 mm is formed. 
     In one embodiment, the upper cover outer periphery flange  22 , the upper cover inner periphery flange  23 , the upper cover outer periphery boss  24 , and the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  are integrally formed with the upper cover baseplate  21  respectively. The seat upper cover  2  may be integrally molded by injection molding, which is convenient for processing and molding and has high structural strength. 
     In one embodiment, the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  are integrally formed with the lower cover baseplate  11  respectively. The seat lower cover  1  may be integrally molded by injection molding, which is convenient for processing and molding and has high structural strength. 
       FIG.  9    is a flow chart of a method for assembling the toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The toilet seat assembled by this method may be a toilet seat as discussed above. The toilet seat assembled by this method is configured to perform an operation, function, or the like as described in the present disclosure. 
     At act S 101 , a user may connect the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  of the seat upper cover  2  to the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  of the seat lower cover  1 . 
     The lower cover outer periphery boss  14  is disposed at the inner side of the outside edge of the lower cover baseplate  11  of the seat lower cover  1 . The annular outer periphery platform  12  is formed between the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  and the outside edge of the lower cover baseplate  11 . 
     In this embodiment, the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  is connected to the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  via welding. 
     At act S 102 , the user may connect the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  of the seat upper cover  2  to the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  of the seat lower cover  1 . 
     The lower cover inner periphery boss  15  is disposed at the outer side of the lower cover through hole  110  of the lower cover baseplate  11 . The annular inner periphery platform  13  is formed between the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  and the outside edge of the lower cover baseplate  11 . 
     In this embodiment, the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  is connected to the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  via welding. 
     At act S 103 , the user may dispose at least a portion of the upper cover outer periphery flange  22  of the seat upper cover  2  on the annular outer periphery platform  12 . 
     At act S 104 , the user may dispose at least a portion of the upper cover inner periphery flange  23  of the seat upper cover  2  on the annular inner periphery platform  13 . 
     At act S 105 , the user may allow the flash overflow produced when welding the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the lower cover outer periphery boss  14  to flow into the outer periphery flashing groove  26  formed between the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the upper cover outer periphery flange  22 . 
     At act S 106 , the user may allow the flash overflow produced when welding the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15  to flow into the inner periphery flashing groove  27  formed between the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the upper cover inner periphery flange  23 . 
     At act S 107 , the user may weld the plurality of first reinforcing ribs  28  when welding the upper cover outer periphery boss  24  and the lower cover outer periphery boss  14 . 
     At act S 108 , the user may weld the plurality of second reinforcing ribs  29  when welding the upper cover inner periphery boss  25  and the lower cover inner periphery boss  15 . 
     The above acts of the method may be performed at the same time or in different sequences. In this embodiment, act S 101  and act S 102  may be performed at the same time (e.g., at a time T 1 ), act S 103  and act S 104  may be performed at the same time (e.g., at a time T 2 , which is later than T 1 ), act S 105  and act S 106  may be performed at the same time (e.g., at a time T 3 , which is later than T 2 ), and act S 107  and act S 108  may be performed at the same time (e.g., at a time T 4 , which is later than T 3 ). However, in another embodiment, act S 101 -act S 108  may be performed in different sequences. For example, act S 101 , act S 103 , act S 105 , and act S 107  may be performed before act S 102 , act S 104 , act S 106 , and act S 108 . 
     According to the needs, the above technical solutions may be combined to achieve the best technical effect. 
     The above only describes the principles and the embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be pointed out that for those having ordinary skill in the art, several other modifications can be made on the basis of the principle of the present disclosure, which should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present disclosure.