Abstract:
A mount assembly releasable mounts a toilet seat and cover to a toilet base. The assembly includes two fasteners permanently affixed to the toilet base engaged by deflectable arms of one or two base members of the mount assembly. The arms engage ring mounts disposed about the fasteners, flexing outward slightly during mounting and dismounting achieved by a simple horizontal sliding motion. When connected, hinged covers snap onto the pair of arms to cover the fasteners and prevent deflection of the arms and thus separation of the base member(s) from the fasteners.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to mounting toilet seats and/or covers to the top of toilet bowls. More particularly, it relates to assemblies that permit most of the assembly parts to be readily removed from the toilet to facilitate cleaning.  
         [0004]     Typically, toilet seats and covers are sold pre-assembled together along a hinge assembly. The assembly is then affixed via hinge posts to a rearward extension of the toilet base behind the bowl. In such constructions the posts are typically bolted to the rearward extension using a bolt-like fastener that extends down through the extension. A nut threads onto the fastener from underneath the extension to clamp the assembly to the extension.  
         [0005]     These assemblies are intended to be essentially permanently affixed to the toilet base extension, particularly given that assembly and removal requires the application of tooling at the underside of the extension. This can create a problem because the area around such hinge posts (behind and under the cover and seat) can be difficult to clean thoroughly. In this regard, urine and other contaminants can collect around the hinge posts, with the subsequent development of an undesirable appearance or smell, or unsanitary conditions.  
         [0006]     As such, there have been a number of attempts to develop toilet seat hinge assemblies where the seat and cover and associated pivot pins can be removed from the toilet relatively easily, and then (after cleaning) be relatively easily reconnected. See e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,159,548; 4,326,307; 4,965,889; 5,933,875; and 6,070,295, and British publication GB 2,280,219 A.  
         [0007]     These systems achieve better cleaning by leaving only small base posts essentially permanently affixed to the toilet base, while providing readily releasable subassemblies that can removably link up with these posts. However, these prior art systems have a variety of deficiencies.  
         [0008]     For example, some rely on a relatively weak connection between the subassembly and base posts such that the subassembly can accidentally be knocked off the posts. Others rely on relatively weak parts which may have a high incidence of breakage over prolonged use. Still others require relatively complex multi-part assemblies, which increase the cost of production and may require some consumer training. Still other assemblies require tools for the disassembly for cleaning purposes. Yet others require a consumer to touch portions of the assembly that may themselves be contaminated.  
         [0009]     Hence, it can be seen that a need still exists for an improved toilet seat mounting assembly, particularly one which facilitates removal of the seat and cover for cleaning purposes.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention provides a mounting assembly for connecting a covering element (e.g., a toilet seat, a toilet cover, or a toilet seat/cover combination) to a toilet base. The preferred mounting location is a horizontal upwardly facing surface of a rearward extension of the toilet base behind the bowl.  
         [0011]     One aspect of the invention provides such an assembly having a fastener extendable through the rear extension of the toilet base and a base member adapted to pivotally support the cover that has an essentially horizontal, deflectable extension arm and an opening for receiving the fastener. The base member is connected to and disconnected from the fastener by deflection of the extension arm so that the base member can be removably attached to the toilet base.  
         [0012]     In one preferred form, the base member can have a pair of spaced apart, essentially horizontal extension arms, with one or both being deflectable. Each extension arm can have an inwardly facing catch surface. The catch surface(s) can engage a ring mount portion of the fastener. A threaded bolt can be secured to the toilet base by a nut underneath the base extension.  
         [0013]     The assembly can also include a cover element connected to the base member. In a first upright position the cover permits the extension to deflect and in a second downward or horizontal position it restricts deflection of the extension arm(s) and thereby separation of the base member from the fastener. The base member can be releasably mounted to the toilet base by pivoting the cover into the down or closed position, release being achieved by moving the cover back to the upright position. In the closed position, the cover conceals the fastener from above.  
         [0014]     Each cover can be pivotally connected to the base member, preferably by a living hinge. The cover can thereby move into abutment with the extension arm(s) to prevent deflection. The cover can positively engage the extension arm(s) such as in a snap fit between mating detent features.  
         [0015]     The assembly preferably includes a pair of fasteners that fit through a pair of holes in the rear extension of standard toilet bowl bases. The base member would thus include two receivers allowing for deflectable engagement with the fasteners. The receivers could be joined together in spaced relation as part of a single base member, or they may be part of two individual base members.  
         [0016]     Thus, the present invention provides a quick connect/disconnect assembly for releasably attaching a toilet seat and cover to a toilet base. This assembly has two fastener assemblies essentially permanently attached to the toilet bowl base rearward extension at two spaced apart mounting hole. The other assembly components, namely the base member(s) and the toilet seat/cover can be completely removed from the toilet base to facilitate thorough cleaning. The connection is a simple snap together connection. With the fasteners attached to the toilet base and the base member(s) attached to the toilet seat/cover, the base member(s) snap around the fasteners, for example by deflection of one or more of the extension arms, and each cover is then moved to lock the deflectable arms. This secures the connection and conceals the fasteners for a more pleasing appearance. The toilet seat/cover can be removed by lifting the cover(s) and sliding the toilet seat/cover laterally in the back-to-front direction.  
         [0017]     It will be appreciated that the assembly of the present invention has a number of important advantages. For one thing, it is comprised of few parts and thus can be inexpensively manufactured. Further, its mechanism of operation does not require a consumer to touch an area of the assembly that is likely to be contaminated. Moreover, the connection is solid, thereby precluding accidental undesired dislodging of the assembly. Further, the parts can be formed to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance.  
         [0018]     The present invention permits rapid assembly and disassembly of the seat and cover from the top of the toilet base, without special tools or training. These and still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description that follows. The claims should be looked to in order to ascertain the full scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view showing a toilet seat mount assembly of the present invention mounted on a toilet base rear extension, with one cover member of the mount assembly shown in an upward position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  showing one part of the mount assembly enlarged;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a partial side view of one part of the mount assembly showing one cover member pivoted up, the cover member being also shown in phantom in a downward closed position; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a rear respective view of an alternate embodiment of the toilet seat mount assembly having two separate base members. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a toilet assembly  10  includes a conventional toilet base  12  having a bowl  14  with a seat  16  and cover  18  mounted to an extension  20  of the toilet base  12  at the rear of the bowl  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the seat  16  and cover  18  have ears  22  and  23  each with a horizontal opening  24  (one shown) for receiving the rotatable shafts of hinge pins  26  and  27 , respectively, to pivotally mount the seat  16  and cover  18  for pivoting along a horizontal axis parallel to the top plane of the toilet base  12 . The rearward extension  20  of the toilet base  12  has a flat top surface  28  with two vertical through holes  30  and  31 . The through holes provide the location attaching the toilet seat  16  and cover  18  to the toilet base  12  using the mounting assembly of the present invention, generally referred by number  32  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the mounting assembly  32  includes a base member  34  and a pair of fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . The fastener assemblies  36  and  37  include threaded bolts  38  and  39  about which are disposed washers  40  and  41  and ring mounts  42  and  43 , respectively. The bolts  38  and  39  fit into the holes  30  and  31  in the rear extension  20  of the toilet base  12  from the top, with the washers  40  and  41  and the ring mounts  42  and  43  captured between the heads of the bolts  38  and  39  and the top surface  28  of the rear extension  20 . These components are secured to the toilet base  12  snugly by tightening nuts  44  and  45  onto the respective bolts  38  and  39  from the underside of the rear extension  20 . Additional washers  46  and  47  can be included at the underside of the rear extension  20 .  
         [0027]     The base member  34  has two receivers  50  and  51  which cooperate with the respective fastener assemblies  36  and  37  to releasable mount the seat  16  and cover  18  to the toilet base  12 . The connection of the seat  16  and cover  18  to the base member is provided by an elongated support  52  with horizontal pockets  55  (one shown) which receive the stationary bodies of respective hinge pins  26  and  27 . The receivers  50  and  51  are spaced apart near each end of the base support  52  to align with the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . Each receiver has a pair of arms  56  and  57  extending horizontally back from the base support  52 . Within each pair, the arms  56  and  57  are spaced apart laterally to define vertical openings  58  and  59 , which open to the back edge of the receivers. The arms  56  and  57  define vertical side walls  60  and  61 , which taper downwardly form the base support  52 , as well as inwardly extending catch surfaces  62  and  63 . Two posts  64  and  65  project upwardly at or slightly above the top edge of the side walls  60  and  61  to mount covers  66  and  67 . The covers  66  and  67  have flat panels that fold along living hinges  68  and  69  and have openings  70  and  71  for fitting around the respective posts  64  and  65 . The living hinges  68  and  69  allow each of the covers  66  and  67  to pivot between an upright open position (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and a horizontal closed position (as shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 ) to lock or unlock the base member  34  relative to the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 , as will be described in detail below. The covers  66  and  67  have turned down peripheries  72  and  73  at their front and sides to overlap the arms  56  and  57 . Small detents  74  and  75  at the outer side of the arms  56  and  57  can fit into corresponding recesses  76  and  77  (see  FIG. 4 ) when the covers  66  and  67  are closed (down) to positively engage the arms  56  and  57  in a snap fit.  
         [0028]     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-5 , the assembly of the seat  16  and cover  18  to the toilet base  12  will now be described. It is envisioned that the mounting assembly  32  can be sold separately or as part of the seat  16  and cover  18 . In either case, the base member  34  is attached to the to the seat  16  and cover  18  by assembling the hinge pins  26  and  27  into the pockets  55  of the base support  52  and the respective openings  24  in the ears  22  and  23  of the toilet seat  16  and cover  18 . This sub-assembly then can be mounted to and dismounted from the toilet base  12  as a unit. During the initial assembly, the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  are mounted to the rear extension  20  of the toilet base  12  as mentioned above. A tightening tool, such as wrench, may be used during initial set up to tightly secure the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  to the toilet base  12 . Once secured, the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  stay mounted to the toilet base  12 . The base member  34  and the seat  16  and cover  18  are attached to the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  by sliding the base member  34  (and seat and cover) horizontally in the front-to-back direction with the covers  66  and  67  up. Catch surfaces  62  and  63  of the arms  56  and  57  are spaced apart less then the diameters of the ring mounts  42  and  43 . As such, as the base member  34  (and seat and cover) are moved, the arms  56  and  57  will deflect outward to make space to accept the ring mounts  42  and  43  in the vertical openings  58  and  59 . An outermost periphery at the top of the ring mounts  42  and  43  (which are held down by the heads of the bolts  38  and  39 ) will capture the arms  56  and  57  between the top surface  28  of the rear extension  20  to resist vertical movement of the base member  34 . Also, the fit of the arms  56  and  57  around the ring mounts  42  and  43  is snug so that there is little or no slop from front to back or side to side. To prevent inadvertent separation of the base member  34  (and seat and cover) from the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  (and thus the toilet base  12 ), the covers  66  and  67  are pivoted down to the closed position to snap onto the arms  56  and  57  and thereby resist outward deflection of the arms  56  and  57 . With the covers  56  and  57  down, the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  are concealed from above the toilet. This keeps debris from gathering around the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  and improves the appearance of the overall assembly. The described connection is made easily without tools, yet is robust and unlikely to be inadvertently disconnected.  
         [0029]     When desired, such as when cleaning, the seat  16  and cover  18  (and base member  34 ) can be readily removed from the toilet base  12 . The covers  66  and  67  are lifted up (raised edges  80  and  81  make the covers  66  and  67  easy to grasp) and the seat  16  and cover  18  (and base member  34 ) are pulled or slid straight (horizontally) away from the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . With the covers  66  and  67  up, the arms  56  and  57  are free to deflect outward and thereby disengage the catch surfaces  62  and  63  from the ring mounts  42  and  43 . As mentioned, with the seat  16  and cover  18  also goes the base member  34 , and thus, the only components left attached to the toilet base  12  are the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . These assemblies  36  and  37  have a small footprint, which leaves nearly all of the top surface  28  of the rear extension  20  of the toilet base  12  exposed, thereby facilitating thorough cleaning.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in an alternative embodiment, rather than a single unitary base member with two receivers, there can be two separate, smaller base members  34 A and  35 A each having its own pair of extension arms  56 A and  57 A, cover  66 A and  67 A, and pocket (not shown) for the hinge pins. A center piece  90 A would then fit between the two base members  34 A and  35 A. Like before, the arms  56 A and  57 A removably mate with fastener assemblies  36 A and  37 A permanently secured to the toilet base.  
         [0031]     While preferred embodiments have been shown, a wide variety of changes can be made to them without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, while two deflectable extension arms are described for engaging each fastener, a single arm could be used and/or only a single arm may be deflectable while the other is rigid. Further, although a toilet covering member including both a cover and a seat has been described, it will be apparent that various types or combinations of covering members can be used. For example, it is not necessary there be both a cover and seat. Either can be attached alone if desired (e.g., for a public restroom just a seat is more typical).  
         [0032]     Accordingly, the claims should be looked at in order to judge the full scope of the invention.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0033]     The present invention provides a mounting assembly suitable to attach a toilet seat and/or cover to a toilet base.