Patent Abstract:
Automatic flushing, lid raising and seat raising arrangements for toilets include a tank top having optical sensors integral therewith so that standard flush tanks and tops may be used with only the tops being slightly altered to accommodate the optical sensors. The flushing arrangement is readily mountable on standard overflow pipes and provides automatic flushing while also allowing manual flushing. The lid and seat raising and lowering actuators are arranged in a single unit readily attachable to a standard toilet bowl using substantially standard lids and seats.

Full Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from provisional patent application Serial No. 60/194,860 filed Apr. 6, 2000 under 35 U.S.C. §119 and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to automatic flushing and seat raising arrangements for toilets. More particularly, this invention relates to automatic flushing and automatic lid and seat raising arrangements for toilets which can be incorporated as original equipment or retrofitted to existing toilets.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    As set forth in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,127, incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, it is generally desirable to be able to use a toilet without touching the toilet or at least touching the toilet as little as possible. For health reasons, both real and imagined, it is especially desirable to minimize or eliminate touching of a toilet or any of its components by hand. Hands come into contact with not only food and eating utensils, but with other people. It is well known that toilets harbor microorganisms for numerous diseases from dysentery to hepatitis. Moreover, it is well known that many people are not in the habit of washing their hands after using a toilet. Consequently, avoidance of touching the surfaces of toilets can help break disease transmission chains. While having touch free toilets in homes is certainly desirable for many reasons, public touch free toilets are highly desirable because the users do not know one another and are not in constant contact and proximately with one another, other than through common toilet use.  
           [0004]    It is of course, highly desirable to have automatic flush and automatic lid and seat raising arrangements which are not only usable with newly manufactured toilets, but also with the millions of toilets, both public and private, which already exist.  
           [0005]    Toilet seat arrangements are generally standard with one manufacturer&#39;s seats and lids being hinged on toilet bowls using a pair of bolts in substantially the same way as another manufacturer&#39;s lids and seats. This is not the case with flush mechanisms. However, practically all toilets which use a flush tank have overflow tubes and liftable valves which close flush tank outlets that dump water at a rapid rate from the flush tanks into toilet bowls. In view of these considerations, there is a need for automatic flushing as well as automatic seat/lid raising and lowering arrangements which are readily adaptable to both original equipment and existing installations.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, it is directed to touch free arrangements for automatically raising and lowering toilet lids and seats and/or for automatically flushing toilets upon sensing an approach of a person intending to use the toilet and upon sensing the departure of that person after using the toilet. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, an optical sensing arrangement is disposed in a flush tank top so that in order to use the system, one need only replace an existing or conventional flush tank top with flush tank top in accordance with the present invention. In a more specific aspect of this sensing arrangement, the new flush tank top includes a pair of optical sensors which have a sensing axes that converge to a point in front of the toilet, wherein the sensors activate the lid and/or seat as a person approaches the toilet to raise the lid and/or seat and lowers the lid and/or seat when the person moves away from the toilet. The sensing arrangement also preferably initiates flushing the toilet after the person moves away.  
           [0007]    In still a further aspect of the invention, the flush tank top includes a vertically oriented optical sensor which detects the presence of a person&#39;s hand which can optionally flush the toilet without touching the flush handle or can optionally raise or lower the seat and/or lid without touching either.  
           [0008]    In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an automatic flushing actuator is adapted to be mounted on an overflow pipe in a flush tank of a toilet in which the flush tank includes an outlet normally closed by a valve. The automatic flushing actuator comprises a housing adapted to the mounted on the overflow pipe and an operator mounted on the housing. The operator is adapted to be coupled to the valve for allowing the valve to remain closed when the operator is in a first mode and for opening the valve when the operator is in the second mode. A motor mounted in the housing is coupled to the operator through a first-lost motion connection for causing the operator to cycle from the first mode to the second mode and back to the first mode. A second lost-motion connection couples the operator to the manual flush device for manually shifting the operator from the first mode to the second mode without energizing the motor.  
           [0009]    In a more specific aspect, the first lost motion connection of the automatic flush actuator comprises a cam driven by the motor to cycle through two positions corresponding to the first and second modes of the operator. The first lost-motion connection includes a coupling between the cam and the operator with the coupling positively coupling with the operator when the cam is cycling through the two positions and decoupling from the cam when the operator is in the first mode.  
           [0010]    In still a further aspect of the invention, the coupling of the first loss motion connection is a cam follower which rests on the operator and always allows the operator to move from the first mode to the second mode when pressing the manual flush device.  
           [0011]    In a preferable aspect of the invention, the operator is a lever which is pivoted with respect to the housing, the lever having a long portion and a short portion, with the long portion being connected to the valve and the short portion being in engagement with the cam follower, wherein when the cam follower is driven by the cam, it causes the lever to lift and open the valve.  
           [0012]    In still a further aspect of the invention, the lever of the operator is connected to the flush handle device wherein when the flush handle device is operated, the operating lever is lifted independently of the cam follower so as to open the valve manually without energizing the motor of the automatic flush operator.  
           [0013]    The invention further includes a device for automatically raising and lowering a toilet lid, and optionally, a seat possibly in cooperation with the aforedescribed automatic flush actuator. This device comprises an arrangement for sensing the presence of a person and includes a base to be secured to the toilet bowl adjacent the rim thereof as well as a housing attached to the base. A drive assembly is positioned within the housing. The drive assembly includes a motor and an output shaft as well as a first coupling for attaching the output shaft to the seat via a lost-motion connection allowing the output shaft to rotate through a selected angle before rotating the first coupling to raise the seat. A second coupling is provided for connecting the output shaft to the lid, wherein the second coupling has a clutch which disengages after the lid has been raised so that continued rotation of the drive shaft past a selected angle then raises the seat. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    FIGS.  1 A- 2 E is a schematic view pictorially illustrating operation of an automatic toilet lid raising and toilet flushing sequence in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 D is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing manual operation when automatic operation has been interrupted FIG. 1,  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toilet having a flush tank with a flush tank top having optical sensors placed thereon or therein for raising a lid in accordance with the principals of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a raised lid with a toilet seat still down;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing touch free hand control of seat raising and/or toilet flushing operations;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a toilet tank with a pressure assist flush having sensors on a tank top in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of automatic flush actuator mounted on a overflow tube within a flush tank in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the flush tank actuator of FIG. 7;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8B is a side view showing the components of FIG. 8 assembled with the flush tank full;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8C is a side view similar to FIG. 8A but showing the flush tank being emptied of water;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8D is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a linear actuator, such as a solenoid, is used to flush a toilet;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an automatic flush actuator in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a side view of a float switch used with the flush actuator of FIG. 9;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a side schematic view showing an optical switch used with the flush actuator of both FIGS.  9 - 11  and FIGS. 7 and 8, and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a top view of the components of the flush actuator of FIG. 9 shown assembled in a housing with the top of the housing removed;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13A is a block diagram of a control circuit utilizable to accomplish operation of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 13B is a circuit diagram showing how the float switch of FIG. 10 and optical switch of FIG. 11 are used to control a motor in accordance with the block diagram of FIG. 13A;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 13C is a flow chart of programming for a microchip used in controlling the motor;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 13D is a circuit diagram for operating the automatic flush system of FIGS.  7 - 13 C;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a device for raising and lowering a toilet lid and toilet seat without touching the toilet seat and lid;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the sensor arrangement which includes a battery power pack;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the sensor arrangement of FIG. 15;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the sensor arrangement of FIGS. 15 and 16 but showing covers removed from battery pack chambers;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 18 is a side perspective view showing components within the sensor arrangement of FIGS. 15 and 16, and  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 19 is a rear view of the sensor arrangement showing battery packs therein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a toilet  10  which is comprised of a toilet bowl  12  having a toilet bowl rim  14  on which are pivoted a toilet lid  16  and a toilet seat  18 . The toilet bowl  12  is connected to a flush tank  20  having a flush tank top  22  and a flush tank operating handle  24 . In accordance with the present invention a sensor arrangement  26  is positioned adjacent to the toilet  10  to sense the presence of a person  28  at a location  30  in front of the toilet bowl  12 . Preferably, the sensor arrangement  26  is an active infrared and radio frequency transmitting sensor which detects and activates by an RF signal a controller  32  which controls automatic raising and lowering of the lid  16  and seat  18 , as well as an automatic flush system  33  for releasing flush water from the flush tank  20  by generating radio pulse codes  34  and  36 , respectively. While radio frequency pulse links  34  and  36  are preferred, the links may also be hard wired.  
         [0040]    As can been seen from the sequence, in FIG. 1A, the system is initially quiescent. In FIG. 1B, the person  28  when in a effective range of about 30 to 48 inches of the detector  26 , as indicated by the location  30 , causes the sensor arrangement  26  to actuate the controller  32  which raise the lid  16 . Raising of the lid  16  preferably takes about 3 seconds. Once the lid  16  is up (FIG. 1C), it will remain up until the person  28  moves away from the toilet  10  as seen in FIG. 1D. As the person moves away from the toilet  10 , sensor arrangement  26  activates the controller  32  to lower the lid  16 . Preferably, after 12 seconds which indicates actual use of the toilet  10 , the automatic flush is armed. As seen in FIG. 1E, automatic flush occurs after the lid  16  is down for about 5 seconds.  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 A- 2 D the system configured in accordance with the present invention does not interfere with conventional use of the toilet  10  and allows the person  28  to raise and lower the lid  16  by hand as well as to flush the tank  20  by using the handle  24 . This is accomplished by having the lid feature switched on or off with a magnetic touch programming arrangement. The automatic flush will not cycle when manually flushed because manual flush is decoupled from the automatic flush, as is explained hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8.  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIGS.  3 - 6  there is shown a preferred embodiment for the sensor arrangement  26  when the elements of a sensor arrangement  26 ′ are mounted within a tank top  22 ′. As is seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and  6 , the flush tank top  22 ′ has a sensor arrangement  26 ′ with first and second laterally directed optical sensors  40  and  42  which are preferably infrared sensors having radio frequency transmissions to operators for the seat  16 , the lid  18  and the automatic tank flush system  33  (see FIGS.  1 A- 1 F). The sensors  40  and  42  are in the illustrated embodiment mounted on the front rim  44  of the tank top  22  and have infrared sensing beams  46  and  48  that converge at an angle a toward a location  30 ′ which is 30-48 inches in front of the toilet  10 . The infrared beams or lines of focus  46  and  48  do not detect the presence of a person beyond the location  30 ′ or the presence of a person to either side of the optical axes of beams  46  and  48 . An infrared hand sensor  50  is positioned in the top surface  52  of the tank top  22 ′ so that a person may activate the seat  16  or lid by holding their hand over the sensor  50  and/or may flush toilet  10  by holding their hand over the sensor  50 , thus avoiding touching the lid  15 , seat  16  or flush handle  24  (see FIG. 5). As seen in FIG. 6, the same optical sensing system is utilized for a pressure assist flush arrangement used in commercial and institutional toilets. With the flush top arrangement of FIGS.  3 - 6 , toilets can be readily equipped to operate in accordance with the automatic sequence of FIGS.  1 A- 1 E by just replacing conventional tank top  22  with the tank top  22 ′ that is equipped with optical infrared sensors  40 ,  42  and  50  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8A- 8 C there is shown a first embodiment of an automatic flush arrangement  60  which according to the principles of the present invention facilitates adaption of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2 for widespread use and is readily usable with the sensing arrangement of FIGS.  3 - 5  as well. The automatic flush actuator  60  is adapted to be readily mountable on an overflow tube  62  within a flush tank  20 . Almost all flush tanks have an overflow tube  62 , but to date, there are no fittable automatic flush actuators which mount readily on the overflow tube and allow for manual flush handle operation as well as automatic operation.  
         [0044]    Referring now mainly to FIG. 7, it is seen that the tank top may be a tank top  22  with a separate sensor arrangement  26  (also see FIGS.  15 - 18 ) or a tank top  22 ′ with the sensor arrangements of FIGS.  3 - 5 , wherein the sensors are integral with the tank top. For purposes of discussion with respect to the automatic flush arrangement flush  60 , the sensor arrangement  26  is shown connected to the automatic flush arrangement by hard wiring i.e. by a line  64 . The sensor arrangement  26  also contains batteries so as to provide electric current to operate a motor within a housing attached to the overflow tube  62 , as further explained hereinafter.  
         [0045]    As is seen in FIG. 7, the automatic flush arrangement  60  is connected by an operator  66  to a valve  68  by a flexible member such as a chain  70  which preferably has slack which must be taken up before the valve  68  can be moved by the operator  66 . When in a first mode the operator  66  allows the valve  68  to remain closed and when in a second mode to operator  66  opens the valve. While the chain  70  is preferred, other couplings between the operator  66  and the valve  68  can be utilized, such as but not limited to, articulated links or perhaps even rigid links. Valve  68  plugs a flush outlet hole  72  through the floor  74  of the flush tank  22 . While the valve  68  in the illustrated embodiment is pivoted by pivot points  76  to the overflow tube  62 , the valve  68  may however be otherwise mounted to pivot or move so as to open and close the flush tank outlet  72 . When the operator  66  moves upwardly, the chain  70  tensions and then lifts the valve  68  in order release water from the tank  20  in order to flush the toilet bowl  12 . Operator  66  is connected by a portion  78  of the chain  70  to a manual flush lever  80  which has a substantially fixed connection to the flush handle  24  so that when the flush handle  24  is depressed, or rotated counter clockwise in FIG. 7, distal end  82  of the manual flush lever  80  rises and tensions the portion  78  of the chain  80 . Tensioned portion  78  of the chain  70  then lifts the operator  66  which tensions the chain  70  to raise the valve  68  and thus manually flush toilet bowl  12 . This is possible because the operator  66  is coupled to a driver in the form of a driving motor by a lost motion connection which enables the operator  66  to bypass the driver and to rise independently of the drive motor, as will be explained hereinafter.  
         [0046]    As is seen in the exploded view of FIG. 8A and the operational views of FIGS. 8B and 8C, the automatic flush actuator  60  is comprised of housing  84  is configured as a molded water proof cup having a top end  85  with a projecting hook  86  that fits into the open top  87  of the overflow tube  62 . The housing  84  has a pair of laterally extending straps  88  which fit around overflow tube  62  and fasten the housing  84  tightly to the overflow tube when a bolt  89  fastens the straps together.  
         [0047]    In the housing  84 , there is positioned a printed circuit board  90  with an optical switch  91  (see FIG. 12). The optical switch  91  detects the position of a unidirectional cam  92  mounted on a gear  93  driven by a worm gear output  94  of an electrical motor  95 . When the motor  95  receives a signal from the controller  32  (see FIG. 1) associated with the sensor arrangement  26  (see FIG. 1), the motor rotates the gear  93  about one revolution, which revolution is detected by the optical switch  91  that interrupts current to the motor  95  upon detecting one revolution of the gear. Electric current to power the motor  95  is supplied over line  64  from batteries in the housing of the sensor arrangements  26  (see FIG. 7).  
         [0048]    As is seen in FIGS. 8B and 8C, during the one revolution of the gear  93  a cam follower  97  is pushed down by the cam  92  and drives the operator  66 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operator  66  is a lever  100  pivoted at a pivot point  102  that divides the lever into a long portion  103  and a short portion  104 . Cam follower  97  rests against the short portion  104  of the lever  100 . As the cam  92  is rotated by the gear  93  so that the cam&#39;s major lobe  92   a  moves into engagement with the top of the follower  87 , the follower is pushed down which lifts the long portion  103  of the lever  100 . Since the long portion  103  of the operating lever  100  weighs more than the short portion  104 , the lever  100  is normally in an at rest position in which it is rotated clockwise and presses upwardly against the cam follower  97 .  
         [0049]    When in the normal position, the flush lever  80  (See FIG. 7) can lift the operating lever  100  independently of the motor  95 , gear  93  and cam  92  because the short portion  104  of the operating lever simply drops away from the cam follower  97  as the lever  100  rotates counterclockwise while being pulled by chain portion  78  attached to the flush lever  80 . Dropping away of the cam follower  97  from the cam  92  provides a lost-motion connection between the cam  92  and cam follower  97 , which lost-motion connection decouples the cam follower  97  from the cam  92 . Alternatively, the cam follower  97  may drop away from the minor lobe  92   b  of the cam  92  when the chain  78  is pulled creating a bypass or lost motion relationship. The preferable chain  70  is comprised of stop elements such as balls  70   a  which are received in a slot  105  in the end of the long portion  103  of the lever  100 .  
         [0050]    When the operating lever  100  returns to it rest position shown in FIG. 7, the toilet is ready for either automatic or manual operation because a subsequent flow of current to the motor  95  causes the cam  92  to rotate and press the cam follower  97  downwardly as the major lobe  92   a  of the cam moves to press the top of the cam follower to thus lift the operating lever  100  by rotating the lever counter clockwise, which as explained before tensions the chain  70  (see FIG. 7) and lifts the valve  68 .  
         [0051]    A base  106  provides a vapor barrier to seal an opening  107  through which the cam follower  97  slides to engage the minor portion  104  of the lever  100 . In addition, the base has a clevis  107  to receive a pin  108  that provides a pivot for the lever  100  which comprises operator  66 . As the operating lever  100  rises, it moves toward the end of the flush operating lever  80  and simply creates more slack in the chain portion  78 . Accordingly, the chain portion  78  provides a second lost-motion connection, which second lost-motion connection is disposed between flush lever  80  the operating lever  100 .  
         [0052]    The particular arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is an initial or first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0053]    A second and preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS.  9 - 12 . In FIG. 9 a float switch  110  projects from housing  84 ′. As is seen in FIG. 10, the float switch  110  comprises a float  111  having a magnet sealed therein, the float being mounted on a hollow shaft  112  having a reed switch  113  (preferably a SPST 10 Va switch) therein which opens when the float is down, but allows the motor  95 ′ to continue running until current is interrupted. The reed switch  113  closes when the float  111  is up connecting the motor  95 ′ to its source of power (preferably D-batteries in the housing of the sensor arrangement  26 ) so that when the sensor arrangement  26  again detects toilet use, a switch is closed energizing the motor.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an automatic optical switch  114  which stops rotation of the gear  93  which mounts cam  92  after one revolution. The gear  93  has an aperture  117  therethrough which allows passage of light from an LED  118  to a detector transistor  119 . When the detector  119  receives light from the LED  118 , power to the motor  95 ′ is interrupted by opening a switch  119 ′ and rotation of the worn gear output  94  stops with the cam follower  97  in its retracted mode (FIG. 8C) against the small lobe  92   a  of the cam  92 . For a subsequent flush cycle, the aperture  117  is aligned with the LED  118  so that control circuit logic again allows energizing of the motor  95 ′.  
         [0055]    Referring now to FIG. 12, which is a top view of the preferred embodiment, it is seen that the motor  95 ′ drives an intermediate gear  115  with the worm gear drive  94 ′. The intermediate gear  115  has a mounting shaft  116  in the form of a gear with teeth that mesh with the teeth of gear  93  which mounts the unidirectional cam  92 . By having an intermediate gear  115  increased torque is available to push the cam follower  97 . The cam  92  is connected to the operating lever  100 ′ via the cam follower  97  with a lost motion connection in the manner shown in FIGS.  8 A- 8 C.  
         [0056]    Referring now to FIG. 13A, the block diagram shows cooperation between the float switch  110 , the optical switch  114 , the sensor/transmitter ( 200 , FIGS.  15 - 19 ) and the motor  95 ′, wherein the motor holds the home position of FIG. 8C when the float  111  (FIG. 10) is down and can not respond to a signal from the sensor/transmitter until the flush tank is full and the float  111  is up. The motor  95 ′ then rotates the cam  92  through one full cycle to flush the toilet. At one full cycle the light switch activates to stop rotation of the motor  95 ′. After the tank refills raising the float  111 , the motor is enabled to again rotate the cam  92  for the next automatic flush when initiated by the sensor/transmitter  200 .  
         [0057]    As is seen in FIG. 13 B, the output on lines  130  and  131  are both low when the float switch  110  and optical switch  114  are closed. This enables the motor  95 ′ to rotate when connected by an operating switch to the C batteries in the receiver battery pack  202  (FIGS.  15 - 19 ).  
         [0058]    Referring now to FIG. 13C control software for the system comprises a single source module system written for the PICBASIC I interpreter provided by Parallax, Inc. The system includes a Microchip PIC16C56 programmed with the PICBASIC interpreter.  
         [0059]    The control software executes a series of conditional statements that transfer control consecutively form motor control initiations (stop, up, down) to timing operations (pause m milliseconds) to polling operations (check person sensor, pushbutton, and motor current) in a sequence as follows:  
         [0060]    1. Initialize ports, variables  
         [0061]    2. Move motor to home, allowing up to a certain max time  
         [0062]    3. If pushbutton is down, calibrate pre-position by moving motor up until it is released  
         [0063]    4. Move motor up to pre-position by timing up motion per calibration  
         [0064]    5. Continually check sensor and pushbutton:  
         [0065]    If pushbutton is pressed, go to 2  
         [0066]    If sensor detects body of person using the toilet for 3 seconds go to 6  
         [0067]    6. Wait for person to leave (sensor non-detect for 1 second)  
         [0068]    7. Check float switch, if tank is not full, wait for fill up to a certain max time  
         [0069]    8. Move motor up to flush and wait there briefly  
         [0070]    9. Go to 2  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 13D is a circuit diagram of a circuit for practicing the present invention to drive the motor  95  in accordance with the block diagram of FIG. 13A, circuit of FIG. 13B and Flow Chart of FIG. 13C.  
         [0072]    Other embodiments of the invention could include a linear motor or solenoid ( 95 ′, FIG. 8D) rather than the rotational motor  95  to rotate the lever  100 . Another approach could use an electromagnetic actuator to attract the minor portion  104  of the lever  100 . In still another embodiment, a solenoid could be connected directly to the valve  68  and be connected by a lost-motion connection to the flush operating handle  80 .  
         [0073]    Referring now to FIG. 14, there is shown operator  150  for both the lid  16  and seat  18  of FIGS. 1 and 2. Seat and lid operator  150  has a base  152  that has straps  154  and  156  with holes  157  and  158  through which the bolts which mount the seat and lid of the toilet bowl rim are received. A housing  160  is mounted on the base, the housing  160  including a motor  162  and a reduction gear assembly  164 . The reduction gear assembly  164  drives output shaft  166  which has thereon a first cam  168  and a second cam  169 . Cam  168  is directly connected to the output shaft  166  as to rotate therewith while the cam  169  drives hub  170  that is rigidly attached to a strap  172 . The strap  172  is rigidly connected to the lid  18  (FIGS. 1 and 2) so that the lid  18  can be pivoted by the strap when the driven hub  170  is rotated. Rotation of the driven hub  170  therefore lifts the lid  18  from its closed position to its open position. At one end of the output shaft  166 , there is a lost-motion connection  176  between the output shaft  166  and a hub  178  that has a strap  180  rigidly fixed thereto. Strap  180  is bolted to the seat  16  so that rotation of the strap  180  will lift the seat  18  from its down position to its up position. The lost motion connection  186  comprises a pair of lugs  184  and  186  disposed around the end of the shaft  166  which are engaged by a radially projecting pin  188  in the end of the shaft when the shaft rotates through a selected angle θ.  
         [0074]    The selected angle θ allows the shaft  136  to rotate sufficiently as to only raise the lid  16  by rotating the strap  172 . After the strap  172  has raised the lid  16  due to the spring biased coupling between the spring loaded drive cams  168  and  169 , and after the lid is stopped from rotation by engaging the toilet tank  22 , the cams  168  and  169  act against the spring bias urging them together. This is because the cam  168  can no longer rotate the cam  169  and therefore pushes the cam  169  axially toward the hub  170 , decoupling cam  168  from cam  169 . After the cams  169  and  168  are decoupled, the pin  188  on the end of the shaft  166  engages lugs  184  and  186  the strap  180  and pivots the strap  180  from its down position to its raised position so as to pivot the toilet seat  16  (FIGS. 1 and 2) its up position.  
         [0075]    At the opposite end of the drive shaft  166 , there is a support shaft  192 . Support shaft  192  includes dual torsion springs which provide for counter balance forces that allow the motor  132  to lift both the lid  16  and the seat  18  with minimal effort. Torsion springs also allow for lowering the seat  18  and then the lid  16  relatively slowly as the input shaft  166  of the motor rotates in the opposite direction, i.e. the clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 14.  
         [0076]    The motor  132  is controlled either to lift the lid  16  as is the case with FIG. 1 or to lift both the lid  16  and the seat  18 . In a woman&#39;s bathroom, the seat  18  is not lifted for use, whereas in a men&#39;s bathroom, the seat  18  as well as the lid  16  needs to be lifted. This is accomplished by the discretion of the user by hand signals to the sensor  50  of the tank top  22 ′ (see FIGS.  3 - 5 ) which instructs the motor  162  to rotate through a further rotation to lift the seat  18  as well as the lid  16 .  
         [0077]    Referring now to FIGS.  15 - 19  wherein the sensor arrangement  26  is shown in detail it is seen that the sensor arrangement comprises a remote sensor/transmitter  200  and a receiver/battery pack  202 . The sensor/transmitter  200  is detachable from the receiver/battery pack  202  for positioning in a different location such as for example on a wall instead of on a tank top. It contains a sensor  204 , such as for example an optical or infrared sensor and a transmitter  206  for transmitting an rF signal to a receiver  208  receiver/battery pack  202 . Optionally the transmitter  206  may be hard wired to the receiver  208 . The remote sensor/transmitter  200  includes a chamber  210  for batteries  212 , which are for example four AA batteries.  
         [0078]    The receiver/battery pack  202  includes the circuit board  208  and a chamber  216  for receiving batteries  218 , which are for example four C batteries. The receiver circuit board  208  closes a switch which causes current to flow down line  64  to power the motor  95  to rotate the gear  93  and cam  92  one revolution.  
         [0079]    From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4