Patent Publication Number: US-2006015992-A1

Title: Toilet seat lifter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a toilet seat lifter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toilet seat lifter having a foot pedal.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Numerous innovations for toilet seat lifters are present in the prior art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present invention as hereinafter contrasted.  
      In U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,562, by inventor Bae, et al., titled, Toilet seat lifting device, a toilet lifting apparatus in which a spring mechanism causes a toilet seat to rise after flushing of the toilet. The spring mechanism is controlled by a bolting device which is connected to the spring mechanism at one end and to a cable at another end so that upon flushing the cable moves the bolting mechanism thereby releasing the spring mechanism. The spring mechanism can vary its resiliency which in turn varies the speed by which the toilet seat rises from its seated position upon flushing. A urine guard is also provided.  
      In U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,498, by inventor Joseph, titled, Toilet seat lifting device, a toilet seat lifting device for selectively raising and lowering the seat of a toilet includes a base disposed on a floor surface, a stanchion secured to the front of the base, and a foot pedal pivotably mounted to the stanchion. A plurality of link arms are pivotably mounted to the stanchion and are linked to the foot pedal so that movement of the foot pedal pivots the link arms. Mounted to the distal ends of the link arms is a lifting arm retaining member which carries an elongated lifting arm capable of vertical repositioning on the lifting arm retaining member to accommodate variously-sized toilet bowls and seats. The upper end of the lifting arm is attached to the under-side of the toilet seat. A main spring attached to the link arms assists in raising and dampens the lowering of the toilet seat, and a helper spring projecting upwardly from the base between the link arms engages when the toilet seat goes past the top dead center position in order to assist in returning the toilet seat to the lowered state.  
      In U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,506, by inventor Munford, et al., titled, Toilet seat lifter, a foot-actuated lifting mechanism for a toilet seat requires no modification of the toilet or surrounding structure. The lifting mechanism has a hollow vertical housing, an upper transverse bracket for attachment to a toilet seat bolt, and a lower transverse bracket for attachment to a toilet base bolt. A spacing adjustment mechanism permits the vertical spacing between the brackets to be adjusted to accommodate different toilet dimensions. A pivoting arm locates under the toilet seat, and a floating connection permits pivoting of the toilet seat lid with the arm and simultaneous translation relative to the arm to accommodate differences in rotational axes. A pedal is free-standing on the floor surrounding the toilet and pivots on a fulcrum. A linkage mechanism couples the pedal to the arm so that depression of the pedal raises the toilet seat. The linkage can be extended or retracted to ensure that the pedal rests on the floor regardless of any spacing adjustment. Torsion and compression springs associated with the linkage mechanism prevent slamming of the toilet seat against either the base of the toilet or the associated reservoir.  
      In U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,146, by inventor Pilkington, et al., titled, Toilet seat lifting apparatus including a resilient bowed member for preventing the seat from slamming, a toilet seat lifting apparatus comprising a base which is bolted to the base of a toilet, a foot pedal pivotally mounted to the base, a bowed member formed of a resilient material and interconnecting adjacent ends of the base and the foot pedal, a plate secured to the toilet seat and an arm connecting the foot pedal and the toilet seat, the bowed member being movable between a lowered position and a raised position when the foot pedal is depressed, and slightly biasing the toilet seat away from the toilet bowl so as to prevent the seat from slamming as the foot pedal is released. In the preferred embodiment the apparatus is formed from polyproplene material.  
      The above patented inventions differ from the present invention because they fail to describe or claim at least one combination of the following features depicted in the present invention: bar having a bar right brace with bar right brace clip and bar left brace having a bar left brace clip.  
      Numerous innovations for toilet seat lifters have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a toilet seat lifter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toilet seat lifter having a foot pedal.  
      The types of problems encountered in the prior art are toilet seat lifters require modification to the toilet and/or toilet seat.  
      In the prior art, unsuccessful attempts to solve this problem were attempted namely: attachments that secured to the exterior of the toilet. However, the problem was solved by the present invention because it only requires that the foot pedal be secured to the floor and the toilet seat lifting device, bar, is removably attachable to the toilet seat by a bar right brace clip and bar left brace clip.  
      Innovations within the prior art are rapidly being exploited in the field of sanitary products for lavatories.  
      The present invention went contrary to the teaching of the art which describes and claims devices which require modification to the pre-existing toilet.  
      The present invention solved a long felt need for a simple easily attachable toilet seat lifting device.  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat lifter having a bar, shaft and foot pedal.  
      More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide the bar having a bar right brace with bar right brace clip and a bar left brace with a bar left brace clip.  
      In keeping with these objects, and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in the foot pedal having a foot pedal rocker upon which it pivots.  
      The novel features which are considered characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS  
     
         
           10 —toilet seat lifter ( 10 )  
           12 —bar ( 12 )  
           12 R—bar right brace ( 12 R)  
           12 RA—bar left brace ( 12 RA)  
           12 L—bar left brace ( 12 L)  
           12 LA—bar left brace clip ( 12 LA)  
           14 —shaft ( 14 )  
           16 —foot pedal ( 16 )  
           16 A—foot pedal rocker ( 16 A)  
           18 —toilet ( 18 )  
           18 A—toilet seat ( 18 A)  
           18 AA—toilet seat hinge ( 18 AA)  
       
    
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a right side view of a toilet ( 18 ) exhibiting a toilet seat lifter ( 10 ) attached to a toilet seat ( 18 A) in a non-lifted position.  
       FIG. 2  is a right side view of a toilet ( 18 ) exhibiting a toilet seat lifter ( 10 ) attached to a toilet seat ( 18 A) in a lifted position.  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a toilet seat ( 18 A) exhibiting a bar ( 12 ) securely attached thereto.  
       FIG. 4  is a partial side view of a right side of a toilet seat ( 18 A) exhibiting a bar right brace clip ( 12 RA) securely attached thereto.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Firstly, referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  which are a right side view of a toilet ( 18 ) exhibiting a toilet seat lifter ( 10 ) attached to a toilet seat ( 18 A) in a non-lifted position and in a lifted position, respectively. The toilet seat lifter ( 10 ) comprises a bar ( 12 ) securely positioned under a toilet seat ( 18 A).  
      Referring to  FIG. 3  which is a bottom view of a toilet seat ( 18 A) exhibiting a bar ( 12 ) securely attached thereto. The bar ( 12 ) further comprises a bar right brace ( 12 R) securely attached at a right distal end thereof and a bar left brace ( 12 L) securely attached at a left distal end thereof. The bar right brace ( 12 R) and the bar left brace ( 12 L) function to distribute the weight of the toilet seat ( 18 A) over a larger surface area facilitating lifting thereof.  
      The toilet seat lifter ( 10 ) further comprises a shaft ( 14 ) securely pivotally connected at a top distal end to a side of the bar ( 12 ).  
      The toilet seat lifter ( 10 ) further comprises a foot pedal ( 16 ) securely pivotally connected at a bottom distal end of the shaft ( 14 ). The foot pedal ( 16 ) comprises a foot pedal rocker ( 16 A) positioned approximately in a bottom middle thereof. When a user pushes downwardly on the foot pedal ( 16 ), the shaft ( 14 ) and bar ( 12 ) are raised elevating the toilet seat ( 18 A) on the toilet seat hinges ( 18 AA).  
      Lastly, referring to  FIG. 4  which is a partial side view of a right side of a toilet seat ( 18 A) exhibiting a bar right brace clip ( 12 RA) securely attached thereto. The bar right brace ( 12 R) and the bar left brace ( 12 L) comprise a U-shaped configuration. The bar right brace ( 12 R) comprises a bar right brace clip ( 12 RA) removably positionable around a right side of the toilet seat ( 18 A) securely attaching the bar ( 12 ) to the toilet seat ( 18 A). The bar left brace ( 12 L) comprises a bar left brace clip ( 12 LA) removably positionable around a left side of the toilet set ( 18 A) securely attaching the bar ( 12 ) to the toilet seat ( 18 A). The bar right brace clip ( 12 RA) and the bar left brace clip ( 12 LA) function as a quick attachment means for securely fastening the bar ( 12 ) to the toilet seat ( 18 A).  
      It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above.  
      While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a toilet seat lifter, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
      Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.