Patent Publication Number: US-4733419-A

Title: Toilet seat-up indicator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an indicator with attached to the underside of a toilet seat and which activates when the seat is moved to its upright position. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Burleson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,124 discloses a mail box which provides an audible and visual indication when mail is inserted or removed. Switches 112, and 114 are provided to indicate when the upper or lower sections of the mailbox are opened. 
     Conigliaro, U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,333 shows a mail box signalling system using a radio transmitter from the mail box to the house. A switch is provided in the door to indicate that the mail box has been opened. 
     Stump, U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,908 discloses a toilet seat with a switch for actuating a ventilation system when the seat is raised and for terminating the ventilation when the seat is lowered. 
     McBrian, U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,183 teaches an alarm circuit and tester therefor which is useable in a number of different alarm applications. 
     Bittaker et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,364 relates to a toilet light unit using a battery powered lamp mounted on the top rear of the bowl controlled by a mercury switch on the seat. The light is illuminated when the seat is up. 
     Molloy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,919 discloses a ratio that is activated by a toilet seat cover. A pressure sensitive switch 48 senses the position of the seat. 
     Steers et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,558 teaches an alarm with a delay for a refrigerator door with the alarm employing a thermal delay element in the circuit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to toilet seats and to the provision of a visible indication to the observer alerting the observer that the toilet seat is in the upright position. 
     In many situations, embarrassment has resulted from the failure to observe the position of the toilet seat as to whether the toilet seat is in the upright or the down position. The present invention is a solution to that problem in that it provides a battery operated flasher circuit mounted in a lightweight package which can be affixed directly onto the underside of the seat by adhesive, VELCRO fastening, etc. The circuitry includes a mercury switch which is mounted to deactivate the flasher when the seat is down and to activate the flasher when the seat is up. 
     The housing contains compartments for mounting the batteries, flashing light and electronic components within it such that the flashing light is mounted in a compartment beneath a semi-transparent cover plate which may contain a message imprinted thereon such as SEAT Up so that the message is illuminated and is contrasting with the background of the remainder of the cover plate. 
     The housing may be configured in a semi-circular or elliptical shape which matches the shape of the inner rim or surface of the toilet seat. Because the device fits under the seat, there is no inteference with the normal use of the seat. 
     A suitable adhesive is formed on the back of the housing to permit the device to be removably affixed to the underside of the toilet seat. 
     The circuitry employed includes a flasher circuit employing a mercury switch. When the seat is in an upright or vertical position, the switch will close causing a light to flash at approximately 1 Hz frequency. The circuit is an LM3909 LED flasher employing an oscillator integrated circuit, two tuning capacitors, batteries and the mercury switch. When the seat is down (horizotal), the switch opens and the flashing stops. 
     The principal object of my invention is the provision of an indicator to provide a warning to an observer that the toilet seat is up. Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which can be affixed to the inside of a toilet seat and which will emit a flashing signal when the seat is up. A further object of the invention is the provision of a seat up warning indicator which can be removably affixed to the inside upper rim of the toilet seat. A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device having a housing configured to match the shape of the inside rim of the toilet seat. 
     Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which provides a flashing indication which is battery operated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These as well as further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the accompanying detailed description of the invention reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the invention; 
     FIG. 1A is a front view of the cover portion of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2 is a back view of the invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the flasher circuit employed in the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the device of my invention. The housing 1 is formed of suitable material such as plastic or polystyrene the only requirement being that the housing be of relatively light weight and be flat but of sufficient mechanical strength to support the circuit elements and batteries described below. The housing may be formed with circular top and bottom surfaces 9 and 7 respectively which shaped matches the interior surface of the bottom of a toilet seat. Housing 1 has a central front facing aperture 3 formed therein. The flashing light 27 protrudes into a portion of aperture 3. 
     The cover 5 shown in FIG. 1A overfits aperture 3 and bulb 27. More particularly, FIG. 1A shows a cover portion 5 having a message 23 inscribed thereon. The message of FIG. 1A is &#34;SEAT IS UP&#34;. The message 23 is formed such that it is visible and stands out against the background portion of the remainder of cover 5. If desired, cover 5 has lower surface 15 and upper surface 17 formed of a curvilinear shape complementary with the shape of housing 1 at surfaces 7 and 9. 
     Cover 5 is slidably mounted over aperture 3 via mounting slots 11 and 13 formed in houisng 1 adjacent to aperture 3. 
     Additional compartments are provided in housing 1 to carry batteries 19, integrated circuit 31, capacitors 29 and mercury switch 21. Suitable adhesive 25 is formed on the back surface of housing 1 to enable the housing to adhere to the inner surface of the toilet seat. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the lamp flasher circuit which is employed in the invention. The lamp 4 is connected across an integrated circuit oscillator 2 which oscillator is controlled via capacitors 10. Mercury switch 6 is conected in series between the oscillator 2 and a battery power supply 8. When the mercury switch closes, the power is completed to the oscillator and the flashing of lamp 4 commences. 
     As modifications to the foregoing may be made without department from the spirit and scope of my invention, the subject matter for which I desire the protection of a United States Patent is set forth in the appended claims.