Patent Publication Number: US-10758098-B2

Title: Toilet hook

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/609,944 filed Dec. 22, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety into this disclosure. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject disclosure relates to a toilet hook used for holding a child&#39;s toilet seat. More specifically, to a flexible toilet hook capable of supporting and storing a child&#39;s toilet seat. 
     SUMMARY 
     A toilet hook having a lower body and an upper body. The toilet hook may have a stopper attached to the upper body and a hook adjacent to the lower body. The upper body of the toilet hook may be rotated relative to the lower body. The toilet hook can be installed adjacent to a toilet tank and underneath a toilet tank cover. When installed underneath the toilet tank cover, the toilet hook may be able to support and store a child&#39;s toilet seat cover. Furthermore, the toilet hook may be able to twist to allow a user to easily install and remove the toilet seat cover. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various toilet holding mechanisms have been provided for use alongside a toilet tank. 
     Each of these conventional toilet holders requires cumbersome techniques overcome by the disclosure below. Despite the ineffectiveness of these conventional attempts to provide a toilet hook, a need exists for a low cost, simple and efficient toilet hook that can be conveniently accessed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an installed position of a toilet hook onto a toilet tank according to the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an upper perspective view of the toilet. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a top view of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a back view of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 8  shows an X-ray isometric view of a connection of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 9  depicts an exploded partial X-ray isometric view of the connection of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the A-A cross sectional view of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  shows B-B cross sectional view of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  depicts an X-ray isometric view of a second embodiment of the toilet hook having a removable intermediate portion. 
         FIG. 13  shows an exploded partial X-ray isometric view of the second embodiment of the toilet hook. 
         FIG. 14  shows the C-C cross sectional view of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  shows the D-D cross sectional view of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 16  shows the toilet hook in a twisted position. 
         FIG. 17  shows the toilet hook in another installed position. 
         FIG. 18  shows a third embodiment of the toilet hook in an installed position. 
         FIG. 19  shows the toilet hook in an installed position with a child&#39;s toilet seat cover disposed thereon. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a device or toilet hook  10  according to this subject disclosure may include a stopper  20 , a first section or an upper body  40  and a second section of a lower body  60 . The first section  40  being capable of being flexibly twisted relative to the second section about a longitudinal axis. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the stopper  20  in use. The stopper  20  may contain an intermediate portion  22 , which creates the wider width of the stopper  20  in relation to the upper body  40  and the lower body  60 . While in an installed position, the stopper  20  becomes lodged against a toilet tank  32  of a toilet  30  and a toilet tank cover  34  of the toilet  30 . Modern day toilet tank covers  34  have sufficient weight to prevent the stopper  20  from dislodging from under the toilet tank cover  34  and subsequently falling out. Thus, the stopper  20  and the toilet tank cover  34  provide support for the toilet hook  10  and create an anchoring effect. 
       FIG. 1  demonstrates that the upper body  40  is made of a flexible material that allows for manipulation and compression. Due to the flexible material, the upper body  40  can be twisted and compressed to allow for easy installation of the toilet hook  10 . In an embodiment, the upper body  40  may be made of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), but it is to be understood that the upper body  40  may be made of any flexible and/or resilient material, including, but not limited to, silicone, rubber and other similar plastic materials. 
       FIG. 2  shows the lower body  60  further including a support portion  92 , a hook return  94  and a hook end  96 . The support portion is of a sufficient width and length to properly hold a child&#39;s seat cover  1  and/or other items to be stored near the toilet  30 . The hook return  94  is of a sufficient height to properly secure the child&#39;s seat cover  1  and prevent the child&#39;s toilet seat cover  1  from falling off of the device or toilet hook  10 . 
     The hook end  96  extends into a narrowing arc or curved end to allow for simple access in installing and removing the child&#39;s toilet seat cover  1 . However, it is to be understood that the hook end  96  can take any suitable shape to allow for installing and removing the child&#39;s toilet seat cover. For example, the hook end  96  may instead have a wider end to provide further security of the child&#39;s toilet seat cover. 
       FIGS. 1-3  show that the lower body  60  may be made of a rigid material. In an embodiment, the lower body  60  is made of polypropylene (PP), but it is to be understood that the lower body  60  may be made of any rigid material that is able to support the weight of a child&#39;s toilet seat cover or other item. Suitable alternatives include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), stainless steel, wood and other similar rigid material. 
       FIG. 1  also shows that the toilet hook  10  can be installed on the toilet in between the toilet tank  32  of the toilet  30  and the toilet tank cover  34  of the toilet  30 . To properly install the toilet hook  10 , the upper body  40  is placed adjacent to an outside of the toilet tank  32 , while the stopper  20  is placed on an inside of the toilet tank  32  under the toilet tank cover  34 . The toilet tank cover  34  is then placed on top of the upper body  40 , creating a pinched uppermost portion  42  under the weight of the toilet tank cover  34 . The compression of the pinched uppermost portion  42  between the toilet tank  32  and the toilet tank cover  34  provides for a friction grip sufficient to withstand gravitational forces of a weight of a child&#39;s toilet seat cover resting on the toilet hook  10 . The stopper  20  has a thickness that is wedged up against the toilet tank cover  34  and the toilet tank  32  that further prevents the toilet hook  10  from becoming dislodged from a secured position. A toilet tank cover end  36  further pinches an adjacent downturned pinched portion  44  of the upper body  40 , allowing the remainder of the upper body  40  to remain upright and secured.  FIG. 17  further illustrates the toilet hook  10  can be installed in reverse. That is, instead of the support portion  92  facing outwards away from the toilet tank  32 , the support portion  92  faces inwards toward the toilet tank  32 . This positioning results in further securement for the child&#39;s toilet seat cover  34 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 6-7  show the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  are aligned along a Y-axis. Although the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  are shown to have similar widths along an X-axis, it is to be understood that the widths of the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  may be varied for other designs. The hook support portion  92  extends outwards from the lower body  60  substantially along a Z-axis. 
       FIGS. 1-2 and 8-11  illustrate the upper body  40  is connected to the lower body  60  at a junction  80 . Although shown in  FIGS. 2-3  as a straight plane along the x-z plane, the junction  80  may take any suitable shape that connects the upper body  40  and the lower body  60 , including, but not limited to, zig-zag, wavy, triangular and/or other geometric shapes. 
       FIGS. 3-5  show the hook return  94  leans and/or extends out in a nearly perpendicular orientation in relation to the support portion  92 . The orientation allows for easier installation and removal of the child&#39;s toilet seat cover. However, it is to be understood that the hook return  94  may be constructed at any suitable angle to provide access to the holding portion. For example, the hook return  94  may be substantially perpendicular to the support portion  92  to provide a combination of securement and ease of access. It is also possible for the hook return  94  to be biased further inwards toward the lower body  60  and over the support portion  92  to provide more securement. Alternatively, the hook return  94  may be biased further outwards and away from the support portion  92  and/or the lower body  60  to provide even easier access. Therefore, the orientation of the hook return  94  in relation to the holding portion  94  can be designed in a variety of different configurations for securement and/or ease of access. 
       FIGS. 6-7  depict the stopper  20 , the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  are all of similar widths. The widths are similar and convenient for storage and a streamlined design. However, it is to be understood that any combination of suitable widths may be used to properly secure a child&#39;s toilet seat cover. 
     In  FIGS. 8-11 , the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  are attached at the junction  80  via a connection mechanism  82 . The connection mechanism  82  is depicted as a male portion  84  and a female portion  86 . The male portion  84  may be aligned central to the female portion  86 . The male portion  84  fits completely within and is surrounded by the female portion  86 . As further shown, the male portion  84  has a cavity  88 . During an overmold process, the female portion  86 , fills the cavity  88  with a cavity filling  89  that is overmolded onto the male portion  84 . 
     In particular, in production, the upper body  40  can be overmolded or comolded, such that the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  become one integral piece. Although the male portion  84  and the female portion  86  are depicted on the lower body  60  and the upper body  40 , respectively, it is to be understood that the male portion  84  and the female portion  86  of the connection mechanism  82  may be of any orientation and/or position that provides suitable fastening and securement of the upper body  40  and the lower body  60 . 
       FIGS. 10-11  depict the stopper  20  as a solid member that is cylindrical in shape. An intermediate portion  22  is shown to be narrower in width in comparison to the stopper  20 . It is to be understood that any width can be utilized for design purposes. 
       FIGS. 12-15  contemplate another embodiment of the toilet hook  10 . The stopper  20  contains a removable intermediate portion  122  housed inside of a stopper cavity  124 . The removable intermediate portion  122  can be removed and installed to make the stopper heavier, more rigid and/or lighter and also to create different structural, characteristics or designs. For example, different color removable intermediate portion  122  can be installed to create a more favorable combination of colors. Although shown as narrower in width in comparison to the stopper  20 , the removable intermediate portion  122  may be of any width to provide further artistic creativity. 
       FIG. 16  depicts the flexibility of the toilet hook  10  in a twisted position. Due to the flexible material of the upper body  40 , the toilet hook  10  may be twisted. The twisting allows for easy access to the hook  90  of the toilet hook  10 . For example, in situations in which the toilet  30  is in a tight confined space such as near a cabinet or some other immovable object, the flexible nature of the upper body  40  allows for the hook  10  to be twisted to secure the child&#39;s toilet seat cover  1  in a forward or other direction. After use, the hook  10  can be uncoiled to the original installed position and store the toilet seat cover with no hassle. To remove the seat cover  1 , the toilet hook  10  could simply be guided towards the user and twisted to allow access to the hook  90 , from which the user can remove the toilet seat cover  1  with no hassle or obstruction by neighboring objects. 
       FIG. 17  shows an alternate installed position for the toilet hook  10 . As before, the stopper  20  remains secured underneath the toilet tank cover  34 . The hook  90  of the toilet hook  10  faces inwards toward the toilet  30 . This allows for further securement of the object being held because the weight of the object pulls the lower body  60  inwards and up against the toilet  30 . Therefore, it less likely for an object to slip over and fall off of the hook end  96 . 
       FIG. 18  shows another embodiment in which the upper body  40  may be constructed of a wider thickness (T) than the pinched uppermost portion  42  and/or the adjacent pinched portion  44 . The wider thickness (T) can be measured along a z-axis similar to the z-axis shown in  FIG. 2 . This allows for increased durability overall and a tighter friction fit. It is to be understood, however, that the upper body  40 , the pinched uppermost portion  42  and the adjacent pinched portion  44  may be of any suitable varying thickness. For example, the pinched uppermost portion  42  may also be of a wider thickness than the upper body  40  for increased durability of the specific portion being pinched. 
       FIG. 19  shows the toilet hook  10  in an installed position with the toilet seat cover  1  installed. As similarly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 16-18 , the upper body  40  is held in place by having the pinched uppermost portion  42  disposed between the toilet tank  32  and the toilet tank cover  34 . The toilet seat cover  1  can rest on support portion  92 . The hook return  94  prevents the toilet seat cover  1  from falling off therefrom. 
     Other embodiments of the toilet hook  10  contemplate the upper body  40  and the lower body  60  removably attached at the junction  80 . The connection mechanism  82  would contain a buckle-like male portion  84  and a cavity-like female portion  86 . The male portion  84  would further have a button-like structure that would allow the male portion  84  to come from the female portion  86 . Other similar securing mechanisms may be used for the connection mechanism  82 , such as screw-on, clasp or the like. 
     The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.