Patent Publication Number: US-11026547-B2

Title: Child toilet seat assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/609,673 filed on Dec. 22, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to toilet seat assemblies and, more particularly, to a child toilet seat assembly coupled to an adult toilet seat assembly. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a child toilet seat assembly includes a base member configured to be coupled to an adult toilet seat assembly having an adult toilet seat and a lid pivotably coupled to a hinge post. The child toilet seat assembly also includes a child toilet seat coupled to the base member via a hinge joint. The hinge joint enables the child toilet seat to pivot about a pivot axis between an operating position and a storage position. The hinge joint also enables the child toilet seat to move along a translational axis between a locked state inhibiting movement of the child toilet seat relative to the base member and an unlocked state allowing movement of the child toilet seat relative to the base member. 
     In another aspect, the base member is configured to be coupled to the lid of the adult toilet seat assembly. 
     In another aspect, the base member is configured to be selectively coupled to the lid. 
     In another aspect, the pivot axis is a child seat pivot axis, the child toilet seat is configured to pivot about the child seat pivot axis when the child toilet seat is in the unlocked state, and the child toilet seat is configured to pivot about an adult seat pivot axis when the child toilet seat is in the locked state. 
     In another aspect, the hinge joint includes a protrusion formed on one of the base member and the child toilet seat, the hinge joint also includes a recess formed in the other one of the base member and the child toilet seat, and the protrusion is received within the recess enabling the child toilet seat to pivot about the pivot axis and to move along the translational axis. 
     In another aspect, one of the protrusion and the recess includes a tab, the other one of the protrusion and the recess includes a notch, the tab is received within the notch when the child toilet seat is in the locked state, and the tab is spaced from the notch when the child toilet seat is in the unlocked state. 
     In another aspect, the base member includes a step and the child toilet seat includes a lip, the lip is engageable with the step when the child toilet seat is in the locked state, and the lip is spaced from the step when the child toilet seat is in the unlocked state. 
     In another aspect, a child toilet seat assembly includes a base member configured to be coupled to an adult toilet seat assembly having an adult toilet seat and a lid pivotably coupled to a hinge post. The child toilet seat assembly also includes a child toilet seat having a support surface configured to support a person, a protrusion coupled to one of the base member and the child toilet seat, and a recess formed within the other one of the base member and the child toilet seat. The protrusion is received within the recess enabling the child toilet seat to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the base member between an operating position and a storage position. The protrusion is slidable within the recess between a locked state inhibiting movement of the child toilet seat relative to the base member and an unlocked state allowing movement of the child toilet seat relative to the base member. 
     In another aspect, a toilet seat system includes an adult toilet seat pivotable about a first pivot axis, a lid pivotable about the first pivot axis, and a child toilet seat pivotable about a second pivot axis different than the first axis between an operating position and a storage position. The child toilet seat is also moveable along a translational axis between a locked state inhibiting pivotable movement of the child toilet seat relative to the lid and an unlocked state allowing pivotable movement of the child toilet seat relative to the lid. 
     In another aspect, the child toilet seat is configured to pivot about the first pivot axis when the child toilet seat is in the locked state, and the child toilet seat is configured to pivot about the second pivot axis when the child toilet seat is in the unlocked state. 
     In another aspect, a base member is coupled to the lid and the child toilet seat, and the base member and the child toilet seat define a hinge joint enabling the child toilet seat to move about the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, and along the translational axis. 
     Any of the above referenced aspects of the invention can be combined with any one or more of the above referenced aspects of the invention. 
     In addition, other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toilet seat system including a child toilet seat assembly coupled to an adult toilet seat assembly in an operating position. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the child toilet seat assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a portion of the child toilet seat assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of base members of the child toilet seat assembly coupled to a lid of the adult toilet seat assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the child toilet seat assembly coupled to the adult toilet seat assembly in a storage position. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the toilet seat system taken along section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1  illustrating an unlocked state of the child toilet seat assembly when the child toilet seat assembly is in the operating position. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the toilet seat system taken along section line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5  illustrating a locked state of the child toilet seat assembly when the child toilet seat assembly is in the storage position. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the toilet seat system taken along section line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5  illustrating the unlocked state of the child toilet seat assembly when the child toilet seat assembly is in the storage position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree, such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” etc. are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an adult toilet seat assembly  10  including an adult seat  15  and a lid  20  pivotably coupled to two hinge posts  25  about a first or adult pivot axis  30 . The hinge posts  25  are fixed to a toilet bowl  32  so that the adult seat  15  and the lid  20  are independently moveable about the adult pivot axis  30  relative to the toilet bowl  32 . In other embodiments, the adult toilet seat assembly  10  can include one hinge post to which the adult seat  15  and the lid  20  are pivotably coupled. The illustrated adult seat  15  includes an adult support surface  35  adapted to support an adult above the toilet bowl  32  with the adult support surface  35  forming an adult seat opening  40  ( FIG. 5 ). The illustrated lid  20  includes a bottom surface  45 , a top surface  50 , and an edge  55  positioned between the bottom surface  45  and the top surface  50 . The bottom surface  45  and the edge  55  define a recessed portion  60  of the lid  20 . The lid  20  also includes arms  65  ( FIG. 4 ) that allow attachment of the lid  20  to the hinge posts  25 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge posts  25  are positioned between the arms  65  along the adult pivot axis  30 . In other embodiments, one or both arms  65  can be positioned between the hinge posts  25 . In further embodiments, the lid  20  can include one arm  65  that allows attachment of the lid  20  to the hinge post(s)  25 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , a child toilet seat assembly  70  is selectively coupled to the adult toilet seat assembly  10 . Collectively, the adult toilet seat assembly  10  and the child toilet seat assembly  70  can be referred to as a toilet seat system. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the child seat assembly  70  includes a child seat  75  coupled to two base members  80  at hinge joints  85 . The illustrated hinge joints  85  at least partially define a second or child pivot axis  86  and a translational axis  88  ( FIG. 1 ), which is substantially perpendicular to the child pivot axis  86 , discussed in more detail below. The illustrated child seat  75  includes a child support surface  90  adapted to support a child above the toilet bowl  32  with the child support surface  90  forming a child seat opening  95 , which is smaller in area than the adult seat opening  40 . A pair of arms  100  extends from the child support surface  90  in a rearward direction away from the child seat opening  95  with each arm  100  having a first portion  105  and a second portion  110 . With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first portion  105  is wider than the second portion  110  in a direction along the child pivot axis  86 . Each second portion  110  includes a substantially cylindrical protrusion  115  having an outer circumferential surface  120  extending parallel to the child pivot axis  86  so that the protrusions  115  extend toward each other. In other embodiments, the protrusions  115  can be positioned on opposite sides of the second portions  110  to extend away from each other. Each illustrated protrusion  115  includes a notch  130  that opens in a direction substantially opposite the child support surface  90  and the corresponding arm  100 . Also, each arm  100  includes a holding member  135  (e.g., a lip or an edge) protruding below each arm  100  ( FIG. 3 ) and positioned at an end of the first portion  105  opposite the child support surface  90 . In the illustrated embodiment, each holding member  135  extends at a greater distance toward the opposite arm  100  than does the protrusion  115  positioned adjacent each holding member  135  (e.g., at least a portion of the holding members  135  are positioned between the protrusions  115  in a direction parallel to the child pivot axis  86 ;  FIG. 3 ). In other embodiments, the protrusions  115  can be positioned between the two holding members  135  in a direction parallel to the child pivot axis  86 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each base member  80  includes a top wall  140 , a bottom wall  145  opposite the top wall  140 , a front wall  150 , a side wall  155 , and an open side  160  opposite the side wall  155  that permits access to an inner cavity  165  of each base member  80 . In other embodiments, the two base members  80  can be combined as one base member. The illustrated side wall  155  includes an oblong oval-shaped projection  170  defining a protrusion cavity or recess  175  with a tab  180  protruding into the protrusion cavity  175 . In particular, the tab  180  is located within a bottom portion  185  of the protrusion cavity  175  and extends toward a top portion  190  of the protrusion cavity  175  ( FIG. 3 ). In other embodiments, the projection  170  can be of a different shape (e.g., circular, triangular, rectangular, etc.). In further embodiments, a portion of the side wall  155  within the oval-shaped projection  170  can be omitted so that the protrusion cavity  175  is in communication with the inner cavity  165 . 
     The illustrated top wall  140  includes a step  195  positioned between a support surface  200  of the top wall  140  and the front wall  150 . In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall  150  at least partially defines a curved surface. In other embodiments, the front wall  150  can include a plurality of planar surfaces angled relative to each other to define a generally curved front wall. In the illustrated embodiment, a lip  205  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) is coupled to the top wall  140  and extends away from the support surface  200  toward the bottom wall  145 . In other embodiments, the top wall  140 , the bottom wall  145 , and/or the front wall  150  can include the lip  205 . Each illustrated base member  80  also includes a finger  210  coupled to the bottom wall  145  extending away from the front wall  150  so that the oval-shaped projection  170  is positioned between the front wall  150  and the finger  210 . In one embodiment, the finger  210  is configured to resiliently flex or move relative to the support surface  200  as to open or close a gap  215  positioned between the finger  210  and the support surface  200 . In other embodiments, the finger  210  can be fixed relative to the support surface  200 . In other embodiments, the base members  80  can include the protrusions  115  and the arms  100  can include the projections  170 , the protrusion cavities  175 , and the tabs  180 . 
     To couple the child seat assembly  70  to the adult seat assembly  10 , the base members  80  are selectively coupled to the lid  20  ( FIG. 4 ) so that the base members  80  move with the lid  20  about the adult pivot axis  30 . In one embodiment, the base members  80  are moved substantially parallel to the adult pivot axis  30  to be coupled to the arms  65 . In particular, the edge  55  of the lid  20  is positioned within each gap  215  so that each finger  210  is adjacent the top surface  50  of the lid  20  and an end  220  of each top wall  140  is adjacent the bottom surface  45  of the lid  20 . By sliding the base members  80  relative to the arms  65 , the open side  160  of each base member  80  receives the arms  65  for the arms  65  to be located within the inner cavity  165  of each base member  80 . As each arm  65  is received by one base member  80 , the open side  160  flexes open to provide enough clearance between the lip  205  and the bottom wall  145  for each arm  65  to slide between the lip  205  and the bottom wall  145 . Once each arm  65  is fully received within the inner cavity  165 , the open side  160  resiliently moves back to an original state so that the lip  205  holds the base member  80  to the corresponding arm  65  (e.g., inhibits movement of the base members  80  relative to the arms  65  in a direction substantially parallel to the adult pivot axis  30 ). In some embodiments, the finger  210  can contact the top surface  50  and the end  220  can contact the bottom surface  45 . As a result, the fingers  210  and the ends  220  also hold the base members  80  to the lid  20  by each finger  210  providing a pinching force acting on the lid  20  against the end  220  of the top wall  140  (e.g., inhibits movement of the base members  80  relative to the arms  65  in a direction substantially perpendicular to the adult pivot axis  30 ). In another embodiment, the base members  80  can slide onto the arms  65  in the direction substantially perpendicular to the adult pivot axis  30 , rather than sliding onto the arms  65  in the direction substantially parallel to the adult pivot axis  30 . 
     In other embodiments, the base members  80  can be integrally formed with the lid  20  (e.g., each base member  80  being formed as one-piece with one arm  65 ). In further embodiments, the base members  80  can be coupled to the lid  20  but spaced from the arms  65  (e.g., the base members  80  can be coupled to the bottom surface  45 , the top surface  50 , and/or the edge  55  of the lid  20 ). In yet further embodiments, the base members  80  can be coupled to at least one of the hinge posts  25  and the adult seat  15 . In still yet further embodiments, the base members  80  can be shaped differently to couple to different types/styles of the adult toilet seat assembly  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the child seat  75  is selectively coupled to the base members  80 —and ultimately the lid  20 —by positioning each protrusion  115  within a corresponding protrusion cavity  175 . In particular, the arms  100  of the child seat  75  (e.g., the second portions  110 ) are configured to flex away from each other to provide enough clearance for the protrusions  115  to be moved over the oval-shaped projections  170  and into the protrusion cavities  175 . Without the tabs  180  of the base members  80  received within the notches  130  of the child seat  75 , the child seat  75  is in an unlocked or moveable state relative to the lid  20  allowing the child seat  75  to pivot about the child pivot axis  86  between an operating position ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ) and a storage position ( FIGS. 5, 7, and 8 ). In other embodiments, the child seat  75  can be connected to the base members  80  before the base members  80  are connected to the lid  20 . 
     In the operating position ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ), the lid  20  is in an open position and the child seat  75  abuts the adult support surface  35  as the adult seat  15  abuts the toilet bowl  32 . With particular reference to  FIG. 6 , the tabs  180  of the base members  80  abut the outer circumferential surface  120  of the protrusions  115  (e.g., the tabs  180  are not received within the notches  130  when the child seat  75  is in the operating position) to position the protrusions  115  within the top portion  190  of the protrusion cavity  175 . When the child seat  75  is in the operating position, the child pivot axis  86  and the adult pivot axis  30  are non-collinear ( FIG. 6 ). In other words, the child pivot axis  86  and the adult pivot axis  30  are spaced apart from each other. 
     When the child seat  75  moves from the operating position to the storage position (either by manually lifting the child seat  75  or the adult seat  15  toward the lid  20 ), sliding engagement between the outer circumferential surface  120  and the tab  180  allows the child seat  75  to rotate about the child pivot axis  86 . Once the notches  130  align with the tabs  180 , the child seat  75  is allowed to move downwardly along the translational axis  88  into the bottom portion  185  of the protrusion cavities  175  for the notches  130  to receive the tabs  180 . Also, the holding members  135  abut the steps  195  and the support surfaces  200  ( FIG. 7 ). As a result, the child seat  75  is in a locked or fixed state relative to the lid  20  as the engagement between the tabs  180  and the notches  130  as well as the engagement between the holding members  135  and the step  195  inhibit pivotable movement of the child seat  75  relative to the lid  20 . In other embodiments, the tabs  180  can be coupled to the protrusions  115  of the child seat  75  and the notches  130  can be formed in the base members  80 . In further embodiments, one of the holding members  135 /steps  195  and the tabs  180 /notches  130  can be omitted such that the other one of the holding members  135 /steps  195  and the tabs  180 /notches  130  function to hold the child seat  75  in the locked state. In yet further embodiments, the top walls  140  of the base members  80  can include a recess that receives a portion (e.g., an edge) of the arms  100  to hold the child seat  75  in the locked state. 
     Moreover, when the child seat  75  moves into the locked state, the child pivot axis  86  moves to be substantially collinear with the adult pivot axis  30  ( FIG. 7 ). Accordingly, the lid  20 , the base members  80 , and the child seat  75  are movable together about the adult pivot axis  30 . For example, by lifting the lid  20  from a closed position (not shown) into the open position, the child toilet seat  75  automatically moves with the lid  20  into the storage position as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     To move the child seat  75  from the locked state ( FIG. 7 ) to the unlocked state ( FIG. 8 ) to again move the child seat  75  into the operating position ( FIG. 1 ), the child seat  75  is lifted away from the base members  80  in a direction along the translational axis  88  for the child pivot axis  86  to move away from the adult pivot axis  30 . As such, the protrusions  115  slide within the corresponding protrusion cavity  175  allowing the tabs  180  to disengage the notches  130  and the holding members  135  to clear the steps  195  ( FIG. 8 ). Thereafter, the child seat  75  can be rotated back into the operating position ( FIG. 1 ). The illustrated hinge joints  85  enable movement of the child seat  75  about the child pivot axis  86 , about the adult pivot axis  30 , and along the translational axis  88 . 
     In sum, the child toilet seat  75  is pivotable relative to the adult seat  15  and the lid  20  about the child pivot axis  86  between the operating position ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ) and the storage position ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ). The child toilet seat  75  is also moveable along the translational axis  88  relative to the adult seat  15  and the lid  20  between the locked state ( FIG. 7 ) inhibiting pivotable movement of the child toilet seat  75  relative to the lid  20  and the unlocked state ( FIG. 8 ) allowing pivotable movement of the child toilet seat  75  relative to the lid  20 . When in the locked state ( FIG. 7 ), the child toilet seat  75  is also pivotable with the lid  20  about the adult pivot axis  30 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.