Patent Abstract:
A mechanism for raising a toilet seat includes two geared shafts that are cooperatively engaged while mounted on a toilet. A foot-operated lever attached to a first of the geared shafts provides torque thereto, causing a rotation of the first geared shaft upon depressing the lever. This, in turn, causes a rotation of the second of the geared shafts. The second geared shaft includes a metal flange or other connector that secures a toilet seat thereto over the bowl of the toilet. As the two geared shafts rotate, the toilet seat raises and lowers with the movement of the metal flange on the second geared shaft.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/428,672 entitled FOOT OPERATED TOILET SEAT filed in the name of Steve Stewart on Nov. 25, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a toilet seat adjusting mechanism for residential or commercial toilets, and more specifically relates to a foot-operated mechanism for raising a toilet seat that results in improved sanitation and convenience to all users of the toilet.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Most toilets in the developed western world have a seat. The typical seat is a moveable device, to be manually lifted when using the toilet as a urinal. Seat design, however, has never favored this fact, and it is very common to this day to fumble for a finger-hold on the bottom edge of toilet seats in both public and residential bathrooms in order to lift them to the raised position. This is both unsanitary and inconvenient.  
           [0004]    Other numerous attempts to produce a commercially viable toilet seat lifting device have encompassed designs that are ungainly or involve mechanisms that require considerable manufacturing cost and complexity and user maintenance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,371 to Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,367 to Gamblin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,782 to Ratajac and U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,335 to Gaston all involve hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders and complicated levers and linkages necessitating manufacturing complexity and undue expense, along with user assembly and maintenance issues associated with hydraulic and pneumatic designs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,595 to Carmel involves two levers, a floor-mounted base and numerous linkages, as well as an electrical motor option to lift the seat. This too, is overly complex to manufacture and difficult for the end user to install and maintain.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present disclosure provides a simple, easy to manufacture, and cost effective solution to the age-old problem of lifting the toilet seat in order to use the toilet as a urinal in a sanitary and convenient manner. The present disclosure will overcome this problem by utilizing a very simple foot-operated mechanism to lift the seat while using the toilet as a urinal. It can be inexpensively mass produced and can be easily fitted to new and existing popular toilet models.  
           [0006]    Instead of fumbling for a finger-hold around the bottom of the toilet seat, a foot-operated device is more convenient and keeps a user&#39;s hands away from the toilet bowl. Using a robust two geared shaft design and a single lever, this invention can be installed quickly on new toilets, and can easily replace or supplement conventional toilet seats on popular existing toilet models.  
           [0007]    The present disclosure is operated by means of a mechanical assembly near the rear base of the toilet seat, mounted near the rear edge of the toilet bowl, in front of the toilet tank, and consisting of a pair of geared shafts, one attached to the toilet seat and the other attached to an adjustable lever that extends down one side of the toilet bowl, at an angle, toward the floor, terminating in a foot pedal a few inches above the floor itself Downward pressure on the foot pedal causes the rear shaft to rotate toward the front of the toilet bowl, with the gearing then forcing the front shaft to rotate in the opposite direction. This front shaft is connected to the toilet seat at its rear base, causing it to lift up from the toilet bowl as the shaft is rotated. Its maximum travel is almost 90 degrees from the closed position, resulting in unfettered access to the toilet bowl. Releasing pressure on the pedal reverses the process, with gravity causing the seat to lower back into the horizontal position, resting on the toilet bowl. A set of friction bushings on each end of the front shaft can be adjusted to control the amount of resistance necessary for smooth operation in both raising and lowering the seat, and will eliminate the seat from being dropped too quickly into the lowered position. A toilet seat cover will ride on top of the toilet seat and will rise with the toilet seat from the pressure of the toilet seat rising beneath it and lower by force of gravity, resting on top of the toilet seat. The toilet seat cover may also be left in the open (upright) position by rotating it beyond 90 degrees from the toilet bowl (so it rests against the toilet tank) if so desired, with the toilet seat moving up and down independently.  
           [0008]    The present disclosure will increase sanitation when using the toilet by eliminating the need to touch the toilet seat to raise it. It would also make it easier for young male children, the elderly, handicapped or those with bad backs to raise the toilet seat and will eliminate the need for men to hold the toilet seat in a raised position while urinating. The present disclosure would also serve to eliminate the common problem of male household members forgetting to put the toilet seat down after use.  
           [0009]    The present disclosure overcomes the problems associated with prior technologies by retaining a simple design for both manufacturing and use. This simplicity equates to lower production costs (and thus, lower retail prices) and ease of installation and use by the consumer. The robust structure of the mechanism and the small number of moving parts involved translates into a high level of durability for the end user. The present disclosure is also easily retrofitted to existing toilets, and doesn&#39;t require special tools, electricity, drilling, floor-mounted brackets or floor-mounted pedals to install or use. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of a foot-operated lever mounted on a typical toilet with the toilet seat in a lowered position.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the foot-operated lever depressed to adjust the toilet seat to a raised position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mechanism for raising the toilet seat in response to a depression of the foot-operated lever.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 3.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a top view of the mechanism of FIG. 3.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a decorative plastic cover for the mechanism of FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, a foot-operated mechanism  10  is shown in a side perspective, mounted on a typical toilet, just in front of the tank, on the rear edge of the toilet bowl. In a lowered position, the toilet seat  11  rests on the edge of the toilet bowl, with the foot pedal  12  in a normal position above the floor. The lower lever  13  to which the foot pedal  12  is attached is slightly smaller in diameter than an upper lever  14 , allowing for an adjusting friction screw  15  to be used to adjust the extension length of the lower lever  13 , and thus the distance from the foot pedal  12  distance above the floor. A toilet seat cover  16  is mounted on a hinge  17  just to the rear of the toilet seat and on top of a metal flange  18 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 depicts the foot-operated mechanism  10  shown in a side perspective with the toilet seat  11  in a raised position. Note that as the foot pedal  12  is depressed, the toilet seat  11  and toilet seat cover  16  are lifted into the raised position.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 depicts a front, right perspective view of the foot-operated mechanism  10  with the toilet seat  11  and toilet seat cover  16  in the lowered position. FIG. 4 depicts a front, left perspective view of the foot operated mechanism  10  with the toilet seat  11  and toilet seat cover  16  in the lowered position.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 depicts a top perspective view of the foot-operated mechanism  10 . The foot-operated mechanism  10  includes a base plate  20  that may be constructed of a metal or other durable material. The base plate  20  includes a left mounting bracket  21  and a right mounting bracket  22  that may also be constructed of a metal or other durable material. The base plate  20  is secured to the toilet between the bowl and the tank with two lock nuts  23  and  24 , or other useful fasteners. This positioning of the base plate allows the mechanism  10  to be positioned where it is less likely to be damaged and does not interfere with normal use of the toilet, than for example previous devices that are disposed on the floor or a side of the bowl of the toilet.  
         [0020]    A metal rear geared shaft  25  is mounted between the left  21  and right  22  mounting brackets with a steel rear threaded bolt  26  running through the left mounting bracket  21  and a left rear bearing  27 . The rear threaded bolt  26  continues through the center of the rear geared shaft  25  and then through a right rear bearing  28  and right mounting bracket  22 , threading into the upper lever&#39;s  14  threaded recess. A left rear bearing  27  is recessed in the left mounting bracket  21  and a right rear bearing  28  is recessed into the right mounting bracket  22  for supporting the rear geared shaft  25 . The rear geared shaft  25  features a female geared recess on the right side, where a male end of the upper lever  14  fits into it, such that a depression of the foot pedal  12  provides torque to the rear geared shaft  25 .  
         [0021]    The rear geared shaft  25  meshes with a metal front geared shaft  29 , such that a rotation of the rear geared shaft  25  causes rotation of the front geared shaft  29 . The front geared shaft  29  is mounted in front of the rear geared shaft  25  and between the left and right mounting brackets  21  and  22  by a steel front threaded bolt  30 . The front threaded bolt  30  runs through the left mounting bracket  21  and a left front bearing  31 , then through a left friction bushing  32 . The front threaded bolt  30  then continues through the front geared shaft  29 , through a right friction bushing  33 , a right front bearing  34  and then the right mounting bracket  22 , terminating in a lock nut  35 . The left front bearing  31  is recessed in the left mounting bracket  21  and the right front bearing  34  is recessed in the right mounting bracket  22  for supporting the front geared shaft  29 . The left  32  and right  33  friction bushings can be constructed of plastic or polyurethane, or any compressible and durable substance or other known apparatus that will provide a damping effect to or friction against the rotation of the metal front geared shaft  29 . In certain embodiments, the friction is adjustable by tightening or loosening the front threaded bolt  30 .  
         [0022]    The toilet seat  11  is connected to the front geared shaft  29  by the metal flange  18 . The metal flange  18  is secured to the front geared shaft  29  in a position that does not interfere with the rear geared shaft  25 . The toilet seat  11  is mounted on top of the flange  18 , which is welded to a position on the front geared shaft  29 . The flange  18  is secured by providing two self-tapping screws  37  and  38 , or other useful fasteners or attachment methods, into the bottom of the toilet seat  11 . The toilet seat cover&#39;s hinge  17  is secured to the top of the flange  18  with two machined screws  39  and  40 , or otherwise fastened or attached thereto.  
         [0023]    The described components cooperate together in the following manner to facilitate raising and lowering the toilet seat. As the user applies foot pressure to the foot pedal  12 , the lower lever  13  and upper lever  14  cooperatively provide torque to cause the rear geared shaft  25  to rotate in a direction toward the front geared shaft  29 . Due to the engagement of the rear geared shaft  25  with the front geared shaft  29 , this rotation causes the front geared shaft  29  to rotate in the opposite direction toward the rear geared shaft  25 , thus lifting the metal flange  18  and the toilet seat  11  into the raised position, substantially 90 degrees from the toilet bowl. When the user releases foot pressure to the foot pedal  12 , gravity causes the toilet seat  11  to move back to its lowered position, dampened by the left friction bushing  32  and the right friction bushing  33  on both sides of the front geared shaft  29 . The toilet seat cover  16 , rides on the toilet seat as it is lifted into the raised position and lowered back to the lowered position. It may also be left in a raised position by lifting it beyond 90 degrees from the toilet seat  11 . With the toilet seat cover  16  in this position, the toilet seat  11  will raise and lower independently of the toilet seat cover  16 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 depicts a decorative plastic cover  41  that fits over the foot operated mechanism  10  with adequate apertures for the upper lever and toilet seat  11  and toilet seat cover  16  to operate. The cover is constructed to fit snuggly over the left  21  and right  22  mounting brackets, utilizing a pair of plastic clips  42  and  43  built into the underside of the top and aligned with the top centers of the left  21  and right  22  mounting brackets to hold it in place.  
         [0025]    The foot operated mechanism  10  may be manufactured in a left side version where the foot pedal  12  is disposed on the left side of the toilet, as opposed to the right side as shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 . In addition, a foot pedal  10 , lower lever  13  and upper lever  14  may simultaneously be provided on both the left and right sides of a toilet.  
         [0026]    The rear geared shaft  25  and front geared shaft  29  may be provided in a 1:1 gear ratio, or in certain embodiments may be provided in a 2:1 ratio, or other useful gear ratio, to lessen the force needed to raise the toilet seat  16  with the foot pedal  12 .  
         [0027]    Various alternate embodiments are readily contemplated. For example, it is contemplated that bearings  27 ,  28 ,  31 ,  34  and/or screws  38 ,  39  may be omitted, or that alternate equivalent components may be substituted therefore. Also, a single lever may be provided in place of lower lever  13  and upper lever  14 .  
         [0028]    In a further alternate embodiment, the rear geared shaft  25  and/or the front geared shaft  29  may not be geared continuously across its length as shown in FIGS.  3 - 5 . In such embodiments, one or more individual gears may, for example, be cooperatively disposed along the length of the threaded bolts  26 ,  30 . Such individual gears may have a threaded opening in the center thereof for engaging the threaded bolts  26 ,  30 , thus allowing the gears to be spun along the length of a bolt  26 ,  30  to a desired position. The flange may then be welded or otherwise secured to the individual gear or gears disposed in place of the front geared shaft  29 .  
         [0029]    In another alternate embodiment, the rear threaded bolt  26  may be disposed in the opposite direction than as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, while the front threaded bolt  30  remains in the orientation shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the upper lever  14  may be welded or otherwise secured directly to the head of the rear threaded bolt  26 .  
         [0030]    The components described herein can be constructed of any material that is both strong and durable. The base plate  20 , flange  18 , threaded bolts  26 ,  30 , two geared shafts  25 ,  29 , screws  37 ,  38 , nuts  24 ,  35 , bearings  28 ,  34  and upper lever  14  should be constructed of metal, as these parts support the weight of the toilet seat and will require strength. The lower lever  13  and foot pedal  12  may be constructed of metal or a composite material with high strength. The toilet seat  11  and seat cover  16  may be constructed of plastic or any other lightweight high strength material. The decorative cover  41  may be constructed of plastic or other lightweight material. The present disclosure may be finished in any color or powder coat finish to match any décor. Brushed metal and chromed finishes are also possible. Other minor decorative changes and derivatives that do not affect the operation of the present disclosure are possible are well.  
         [0031]    Although the best methodologies of the invention have been particularly described in the foregoing disclosure, it is to be understood that such descriptions have been provided for purposes of illustration only, and that other variations both in form and in detail can be made thereupon by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is defined first and foremost by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0