Patent Publication Number: US-8122523-B2

Title: Toilet seat hinge

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly to toilet seat hinge of toilet, which allows the toilet seat to be easily detached from the toilet bowl for cleaning purpose. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     A typical toilet comprises a toilet bowl and a toilet seat mounted thereon. The toilet seat is installed over the rim of the toilet bowl through a hinge. And the hinge is fastened at the rear of the toilet bowl by two screws. In this way the toilet seat can be folded along the hinge back and forth. Since the hinge is fastened on the toilet bowl by screws, it is very inconvenient to remove the hinge, as well as the toilet seat which is connected with the hinge. This makes it difficult to clean the rim of the toilet bowl, and the toilet seat. 
     There are some toilet seats which are developed to be removable. In this way the whole toilet seat can be removed from the toilet bowl, so the rim of the toilet bowl can be cleaned without the barrier of the hinge, also the whole toilet seat can be cleaned separately. While these types of toilet seats are either not easy to remove and re-install, or not secured over the toilet bowl of the toilet. It is necessary to developed a new device which can secure the toilet seat, and also easy to be removed and re-installed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The main object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat hinge, which allows the toilet seat to be easily detached from the toilet bowl for cleaning purpose. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat hinge, which is easy for the toilet seat to be installed on the toilet bowl. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat hinge, which connects the toilet bowl with the toilet seat securely. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat hinge, wherein the toilet seat can be detached from the toilet bowl on one single operation of pressing a button. In addition, the toilet seat hinge can remain at its releasing status for easily removing the toilet seat from the toilet bowl. Once the toilet seat is reinstalled back to the toilet bowl, the toilet seat hinge will automatically be actuated to re-lock the toilet seat with the toilet bowl. 
     Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a toilet seat hinge for toilet seat, comprising: 
     a hinge body adapted for pivotally coupling with the toilet seat; 
     a hinge base, which is adapted for attaching on the toilet bowl of the toilet, detachably coupled with the hinge body for detachably coupling the toilet seat on the toilet bowl; and 
     a locking arrangement which comprises a retention lock operatively moving between a locking status that locks up the hinge body with the hinge base and a releasing status that unlock the hinge body the said hinge base, and a self-lock retaining the retention lock at the releasing status. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a toilet seat hinge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the back of the self-lock. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the button of the self-lock. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the button of the self-lock of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is perspective view of the left latch of the hinge lock according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the hinge base according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the hinge body according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially enlarged view of the hinge body according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the hinge body according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the hinge base according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the hinge lock in releasing status, and the self-lock being locked when the hinge body is coupled with the hinge base. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the self-lock being unlocked by the hinge body. 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the hinge lock in locking status, and the self-lock being unlocked when the hinge body is coupled with the hinge base. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the hinge body with a toilet seat being coupled with the hinge base. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the toilet seat hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the hinge body with a toilet seat being detached from the hinge base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  15  and  16  of the drawings, a toilet seat hinge, for a toilet according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge body  10  and a hinge base  20  detachably coupling with the hinge body  10 . 
     The hinge body  10  is adapted to pivotally couple with a toilet seat  30  so the toilet seat  30  can be opened and closed along the axis of the hinge. The hinge body  10  has a transverse hinge slot  101  provided thereon and comprises two seat joints  102  outwardly extended from two ends of the hinge slot  101  respectively for pivotally coupling with the toilet seat  30 . Accordingly, the two seat joints  102  can be a soft closing hinges to provide a pivotally biasing force against the toilet seat  30  when the toilet seat  30  is pivotally folded to cover on the toilet bowl  40 . 
     The hinge base  20  is adapted to be detachably attached on a toilet bowl  40  of the toilet. The hinge base  20  has two installation slots  201  at the left and right sides thereof respectively. The size and position of the installation slots  201  correspondingly match the holes on the rear portion of the rim of a standard toilet bowl, so the hinge base  20  can be fastened on the rear portion of the rim of the toilet bowl  40  by screws and nuts through the installation slots  201 . When the hinge base  20  is fastened on the toilet bowl  40 , the hinge body  10  with the toilet seat  30  can be coupled with the hinge base  20 . So the hinge body  10  as well as the toilet seat  30  is mechanically connected with the toilet bowl  40 . The toilet seat  30  then can be put down to cover the toilet bowl  40 , or lift up to uncover the toilet bowl  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  11  and  15  of the drawings, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hinge base  20  has two installation wings  202  protruding backwardly from the two side ends of the back wall thereof. The installation slots  201  are located at the installation wings  202  respectively. In this manner, when the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled together, the installation slots  201  will not be covered by the hinge body  10 . Therefore, during installing or uninstalling the hinge base  20 , the hinge body  10  needs not be removed. The hinge base  20  also comprises two slot covers  203  pivotally connected with the installation wings  202  at the back side thereof respectively. Accordingly, when the slot cover  203  is pivotally folded to enclose the respective installation slot  201 , the free edge of the slot cover  203  is engaged with the back wall of the hinge base  20  to retain the slot cover  203  in position. 
     The slot cover  203  can be coupled with the respective installation wing  202  to totally enclose the installation slot  201 . Therefore the screws and nuts connecting the hinge base  20  and the bowl  40  will not be exposed to water. This will protect the screws and nuts from rusting. Even when the hinge body  10  is removed from the hinge base  20 , the screws and nuts are still being covered, as shown in  FIG. 16 . It is worth mentioning when the slot cover  203  is coupled with the installation wing  202 , the height of the slot cover  203  is the same as the height of the hinge base  20 . In another word, the upper surface of the slot cover  203  and the upper surface of the hinge base  20  are in the same level. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 , the hinge body  10  comprises two sliding slots  11  transversely at two side ends, i.e. the left and right ends, thereof. When the hinge base  20  is fastened on the toilet bowl  40 , the two sliding slots  11  are parallel to the rim of the toilet bowl  40 . Correspondingly, the hinge base  20  comprises two sliding ridges  21  transversely provided at two side ends, i.e. the left and right ends thereof. Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , by aligning the sliding slots  11  and the sliding ridges  21 , the hinge body  10  can be slid forward horizontally to the rim of the toilet bowl  40  to cover the hinge base  20 . When the sliding ridges  21  of the hinge base  20  are slid to the end of the sliding slots  11  of the hinge body  10 , the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled together, and the hinge base  20  is totally covered by the hinge body  10 . The hinge body  10  can also be slid backward to be detached from the hinge base  20 . In this way, the hinge body  10  with the toilet seat  30  can be easily removed away from the hinge base  20  and the toilet bowl  40 . Because the sliding slots  11  and the sliding ridges  21  are matched closely, the hinge body  10  cannot move vertically when it is coupled with the hinge base  20 . Therefore, during lifting and putting down the toilet seat  30 , the hinge body  10  is secured. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 14  of the drawings, the hinge further comprises a locking arrangement for detachably locking the hinge body  10  with the hinge base  20 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises a retention lock  22  operatively moving between two statuses, the locking status and the releasing status. In the locking status, the retention lock  22  can lock the position of the hinge body  10  when the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled together. In this situation, the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  is securely coupled and cannot be detached even a pulling force is executed horizontally on the hinge body  10  of on the toilet seat  30 . In the releasing status, the retention lock  22  has no effort over the coupling of the hinge body  10  and hinge base  20 . Therefore, the hinge body  10  can be removed from the hinge base  20  freely by sliding along the sliding slots  11 . It is worth to mention that when the hinge body  10  is slidably coupled with the hinge base  20 , the retention lock  22  is encased within the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20 . 
     The locking arrangement further comprises a self-lock  23  adapted to switch and retain the retention lock  22  from locking status to the releasing status. Therefore, when the self-lock  23  is locked, the retention lock  22  remains in releasing status. The hinge body  10  can be slid back and forth freely. When the self-lock  23  is unlocked, the retention lock  22  remains in locking status. If at the moment, the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled together, the hinge body  10  can not be detached from the hinge base  20 . The benefit of the self-lock  23  is when the retention lock  22  is switched to releasing status, the self-lock  23  will retain the retention lock  22  in this status, and the user doesn&#39;t need to take care of the retention lock  22  any more. So the user can conveniently detach the hinge body  10  from the hinge base  20  on the toilet bowl  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , the retention lock  22  comprises two locking latches, i.e. a left locking latch  221 , and a right locking latch  222 , symmetrically aligned on the hinge base  20 . Both two latches  221 ,  222  are longitudinally slidable along the hinge base  20 . The hinge body  10  also comprises two locking teeth  12  provided at two inner walls of the hinge body  10  respectively. In the locking status, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  extend towards the two sides of the hinge base  20  respectively. In the releasing status, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  withdraw towards the center of the hinge base  20  respectively, the two locking teeth  12  are spacedly fixed at the hinge body  10 . When the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled together, the two locking teeth  12  are inside the hinge base  20 . At this moment, if the retention lock  22  is in locking status, the locking latches  221 ,  222  extend and couple with the locking teeth  12  respectively preventing the locking teeth  12  to move backward. In this way, the hinge body  10  is locked with the hinge base  20  and cannot be detached from the hinge body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in a preferred embodiment, the left locking latch  221  comprises an inclining end  2211  and an opposed engaging end  2212 . The surface of the inclining end  2211  has an inclining surface. In other words, the left locking latch  221  has a trapezoidal shape that the rear edge of the left locking latch  221  is wider than the front edge thereof. So when the hinge body  10  is slid towards the hinge base  20 , the left locking tooth  12  of the hinge body  10  biases against the inclining end  2211  and push the left locking latch  221  to move longitudinally towards the center of the hinge base  20 . Symmetrically, the right locking latch  222  comprises an inclining end  2221  and an engaging end  2222 . The inclining end  2221  of the right latch  222  has a similar inclining surface and can be pushed to move towards the center by another locking tooth  12  of the hinge body  10 . Accordingly, a distance between the locking teeth  12  is shorter than a distance between the two inclining ends  2211  of the locking latches  221 ,  222 . Therefore, even if the retention lock  22  is in locking status and the two locking latches  221 ,  222  are extending towards the two sides of the hinge base  20 , the hinge body  10  can still be pushed forward and be coupled with the hinge base  20 . 
     The self-lock  23  is located in the center of the hinge base  20  and is slidably engaged with the engaging end  2212  of the left locking latch  221  and the engaging end  2222  of the right locking latch  222  together. Referring to  FIGS. 10 to 14 , the self-lock  23  comprises an engaging element  231  and a locking pin  232  upwardly and slidably extended through the engaging element  231 . The engaging element  231  comprises a left inclining slot  2311  and a right inclining slot  2312 . Both inclining slots  2311 ,  2312  have a degree with the central axis of the hinge base  20  and incline towards the center of the engaging element  231  respectively. Referring to  FIG. 6 , accordingly, both engaging end  2212 ,  2222  of the two locking latches  221 ,  222  comprise two inclining ridges  2213 ,  2223  engaged with the inclining slots  2311 ,  2312  respectively. Each of the inclining ridges  2213 ,  2223  has the same degree as the relative inclining slot  2311 ,  2312 . Therefore, when the relative inclining ridges  2213 ,  2223  and the inclining slots  2311 ,  2312  are engaged together respectively, the transverse movement of the engaging element  231  into the hinge base  20  can drive the locking latches  221 ,  222  moving longitudinally. Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the engaging element  231  is pushed back in the direction of the arrow, the two latches  221 ,  222  will be withdrawn to the center in the direction of the arrows. At the end, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  are totally withdrawn and in the releasing status. On the contrary, when the engaging element  231  is pushed forward against the arrow, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  will be extent longitudinally against the arrows. At the end, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  are totally extent and in the locking status. Also, when pushing the hinge body  10  forward to couple the hinge body  10  with the hinge base  20 , the two locking teeth  12  will push the two locking latches  221 ,  222  to move towards the center of the hinge base  10 , and simultaneously, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  will pull the engaging element  231  backward transversely. 
     The engaging element  231  also comprises a pushing spring  2313  and a push button  2314 . One end of the pushing spring  2313  is located on the hinge base  20 , and another end of the pushing spring  2313  is attached on the front edge of the engaging element  231 . The pushing spring  2313  is compressed in transverse so it provides a pushing force continuously with the intention to push the engaging element  231  to move forward, and consequently to extend the locking latches  221 ,  222  and retain the locking status. Accordingly, the push button  2314  is transversely and slidably coupled at the hinge base  20  to drive the locking latches  221 ,  222  sliding longitudinally at the hinge base  20 , wherein a portion of the push button  2314  is outwardly protruded from the hinge base  20  for being pressed the push button  2314  into the hinge base  20 . The push button  2314  is on the back edge of the engaging element  231  which is opposite to the pushing spring  2313 . Pushing the push button  2314  against the pushing spring  2313  moves the engaging element  231  backward and withdraws the locking latches  221 ,  222  in releasing status. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the locking pin  232  is in a shape of ladder-like column. It comprises a base  2321 , a column  2322  over the base  2321 , and a head  2323  over the column  2322 . The diameter of the column  2322  is smaller than the diameter of the base  2321 . The diameter of the head  2323  is smaller than the column  2322 . The top of the head  2323  is in a round shape. Preferably, the head  2323  is formed by a column  2322  and a hemisphere with the same diameter. The self-lock  23  further comprises a pin spring  2324  and a spring seat  2325  at the bottom of the hinge base  20  to retain the pin spring  2324  in position. One end of the pin spring  2324  is received by the spring seat  2325 . Another end of the pin spring  2324  is seated on the bottom of the hinge base  20 . The pin spring  2324  is compressed so it provides a pushing force to the locking pin  232  upwardly. Accordingly, when the engaging element  231  is pressed transversely, the pin spring  2324  will push the locking pin  232  upwardly to lock up the engaging element  231  at the locking status. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the engaging element  231  further comprises a through locking slot  2316  in the center thereof, and extends transversely. The width of the locking slot  2316  is the same as the diameter of the head  2323  of the locking pin  232 , and is smaller than the diameter of the column  2322  of the locking pin  232 . The thickness of the locking slot  2316  is smaller than the height of the head  2323  of the locking pin  232 . The locking pin  232  with the pin spring  2324  is positioned vertically on the hinge base  20 , and the engaging element  231  is positioned over the locking pin  232  with the head  23223  of the locking pin  232  extending through the locking slot  2316 . The locking pin  232  doesn&#39;t move transversely. So when the engaging element  231  is moving back and forth, the head  2323  of the locking pin  232  slides in the locking slot  2316  but the locking pin  232  remains in its original position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , at the back of the engaging element  231 , the locking slot  2316  comprises a ladder-like cavity  2317  at the back end thereof. The ladder-like cavity  2317  has the same diameter as the column  2322  of the locking pin  232 . Therefore when the back end of the locking slot  2316  is moved over the locking pin  232 , the ladder-like cavity  2317  provides a cavity to receive a portion of the column  2322 . The locking pin  232  will then be lift up by the pin spring  2324 . In the way, the pin head  2323  is exposed over the locking slot  2316 , and the upper portion of the column  2322  stays in the ladder-like cavity  2317 . Because the diameter of the column  2322  is larger than the width of the locking slot  2316 , when the upper portion of the column  2322  stays in the ladder-like cavity  2317 , it prevents the engaging element  231  from moving transversely. Therefore, at this status, the self-lock  23  is locked, and the retention lock  22  is remained in releasing status. Then, if the head  2323  of the locking pin  232  is pushed down until the column  2322  disengaged from the ladder-like cavity  2317 , the engaging element  231  can move transversely again. 
     In other words, when the engaging element  231  is moved transversely at the locking status, the column  2322  of the locking pin  232  is upwardly slid to engage with the ladder-like cavity  2317  so as to lock up the engaging element  231  in position. When the head  2323  of the locking pin  232  is downwardly pressed, the column  2322  of the locking pin  232  is downwardly slid to disengage with the ladder-like cavity  2317  so as to enable the engaging element  232  transversely sliding out of the hinge base  20  at its original position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 14 , with the locking arrangement of the present invention, the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  can be easily coupled and lock, then be disengaged and detached. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , when the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled and the retention lock  22  is in locking status, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  are extended, the engaging element  231  is pushed back by the pushing spring  2313 , and the pin head  2323  is in the front end of the locking slot  2316  with the pin spring  2324  being compressed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , when the user wants to detach the hinge body  10  from the hinge base  20  to remove the toilet seat  30 , the user just needs to push the push button  2314  of the engaging element  231 . When the engaging element  231  is being pushed backward, the locking latches  221 ,  222  of the retention lock  22  are withdrawn to the releasing status. At the same time, when the ladder-like cavity  2317  is moved over the locking pin  232 , the column  2322  of the locking pin  232  is pushed into the ladder-like cavity  2317  by the pin spring  2324  and the position of the engaging element  231  is retained. At this moment, the releasing status of the retention lock  22  is locked by the self-lock  23 . The user then can release the pushing force on the push button  2314  and free his/her hands. Since the retention lock  22  is released, now the user can simple pull the toilet seat  30  with the hinge body  10  backward to detached the hinge body  10  from the hinge base  20 , so as to detach the toilet seat  30  from the toilet bowl  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , when the hinge body  10  is pulled away from the hinge base  20 , the back wall  13  of the hinge body  10  will slide over the head  2323  of the locking pin  232 . As the upper portion of the head  2323  is hemisphere, the locking pin  232  is pushed down by the back wall  13 . Therefore the column  2322  of the locking pin  232  is moved out of the ladder-like cavity  2317 . As a result, the engaging element  231  is pushed forward by the pushing spring  2313 . The self-lock  23  then releases the releasing status of the retention lock  22 , and the retention lock  22  returns back to locking status. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , it is worth mentioning, the bottom edge of the back wall  13  of the hinge body  10  has a pressing indention  131  for the convenience to push the head  2323  of the locking pin  232 . Accordingly, when the hinge body  10  is slidably engaged with the hinge base  20 , the pressing indention  131  is alignedly slid to downwardly press at the head  2323  of the locking pin  232  so as to unlock the locking pin  232 . In other words, during the installation of the hinge body  10 , the head  2323  of the locking pin  232  is automatically pressed to ensure the release of the self-lock  23 . So, after the hinge body  10  is mounted at the hinge base  20 , the retention lock  22  is returned back to its locking status so as to ensure the hinge body  10  being locked at the hinge base  20 . 
     When the user needs to install the toilet seat  30  back, he/she just need to align the sliding slots  11  of the hinge body  10  with the sliding ridges  21  of the hinge base  20  respectively and push the hinge body  10  forwardly. If at this moment, the hinge base  20  is at releasing status, the back wall  13  of the hinge body  10  will first push the head  2323  of the locking pin  232  to release the self-lock  23  and returns the retention lock  22  to locking status. This is important because when the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are coupled together, they need to be locked. If the retention lock  22  is already in locking status, the hinge body  10  will move forward continuously. The two locking teeth  12  of the hinge body  10  will push the two locking latches  221 ,  222  towards the center of the hinge base  20 . When the locking teeth  12  pass by, the two locking latches  221 ,  222  extend again and block the locking teeth  12  to move back. The reason is the pushing spring  2313  intends to push the engaging element  231  forward and extend the two locking latches  221 ,  222 . Also, when the two locking latches  221 ,  222  are pushed towards each other, the ladder-like cavity  2317  is pulled back with the engaging element  231  but hasn&#39;t reached the locking pin  232  yet and won&#39;t lock the retention lock  22  in releasing status. When the two locking latches  221 ,  222  are fully extent, the retention lock  22  is in locking status, the coupling of the hinge body  10  and the hinge base  20  are secured. 
     In summary, using the present invention, the user can easily remove the toilet seat  30  from the toilet bowl  40  by pushing the push button  2314 , and pulling the toilet seat  30  with the hinge body  10 . To reinstall, just pushing the hinge body  10  to the end of the hinge base  20  is enough. During the operation, no tools are needed, no hand or finger need to keep pushing on any button. Even one hand can handle the operation. Since the toilet seat  30  and the hinge body  10  can be easily removed, the user can clean them much more conveniently. Because the hinge body  10  covers the hinge base  20  thoroughly, the hinge base  20  will keep clean. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.