Patent Description:
As is known, a sanitary bowl (for toilets and the like) is normally provided with a seat assembly formed by a seat and a cover that are hinged to each other and to the sanitary bowl.

Each sanitary bowl has a pair of holes which are designed to receive respective fastening elements for fixing the seat assembly to the sanitary bowl.

The distance between the holes, as well as their position with respect to the front edge of the sanitary bowl, may be different for different models of sanitary bowls.

Each model of sanitary bowl generally requires a specific seat assembly, especially in the case of so-called smart toilets. Each smart toilet, in fact, is equipped with its own seat assembly, and has the seat assembly fastening holes in a predetermined position on the sanitary bowl. A seat assembly can only be mounted on the sanitary bowl if it is provided with fastening elements in a position corresponding to the holes in the sanitary bowl.

It is only in some cases that the seat assembly is equipped with an adjustment system that allows adjustment of the position of the fastening elements in order to adapt the seat assembly to several sanitary bowls, but only in one adjustment direction.

Furthermore, in most cases the system for fastening the seat assembly to the sanitary bowl is relatively complicated and/or not very practical, requiring relatively uncomfortable and complicated operations by the operator, both when assembling and when removing the seat assembly from the sanitary bowl.

In particular, fastening the seat assembly to the sanitary bowl requires the tightening of bolts: when tightening, the seat assembly might move sideways, despite the friction between the various parts, thus compromising the correct positioning. In some cases, metal washers are used to increase bolt tightening, and/or rubber films to increase friction during assembly, but additional components are required, and the results may not be fully satisfactory.

<CIT> discloses a fastening system comprising a guide, a slide block sliding in the guide along a first direction, and a pad whose position on the sliding block can in turn be adjusted in a second direction; a fixing screw engages the slide block and the pad.

One object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, in particular by providing a device for fastening a seat assembly onto a sanitary bowl, especially for smart toilets, which can be adjusted to the size and tolerances of the sanitary bowl so that it can be used on different sanitary bowls.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that allows the seat assembly to be easily assembled/disassembled, in order to facilitate installation and removal, and thus also cleaning, maintenance, etc..

Therefore, the present invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a seat assembly onto a sanitary bowl, as defined essentially in the appended claim <NUM> and, in its additional features, in the dependent claims.

The device of the invention essentially comprises a mounting plate that can be fixed to the sanitary bowl by means of a system of pins and holes. Specifically, the mounting plate is equipped with a grid of holes that allows the relative position of the fastening washers to be changed, depending on which holes are used to insert the pins. This allows the variations in the distance between the holes of the sanitary bowl to be compensated for, while maintaining the correct position of the mounting plate in relation to the sanitary bowl. After the washers have been bolted to the sanitary bowl, the entire mounting plate remains fixed.

Once the mounting plate is fixed to the sanitary bowl, the seat assembly is then coupled to the mounting plate. In particular, the seat assembly is slid into the special seat obtained on the mounting plate, using a system of grooves. At the end, a snap-on coupling fastens the seat assembly to the mounting plate.

To disassemble the seat assembly from the sanitary bowl, it is sufficient to release the snap-on coupling and slide the seat assembly along the grooves out of the respective seat.

The device of the invention is extremely versatile and can be adjusted to the size and tolerances of different sanitary bowls.

Furthermore, the device of the invention is very simple and quick to use, both when assembling and disassembling the seat assembly, thus also facilitating the cleaning, maintenance, etc..

The device of the invention prevents the seat assembly from moving vertically and sideways, without requiring pre-tensioning of bolts or other expedients as in the systems of the prior art.

The device of the invention essentially works by shear stress, by means of the pins which engage the respective holes, and does not require a high pre-tensioning to be fastened; in this way, both the mounting plate and the other components can be made from one simple plastic injection mould.

Ultimately, the device of the invention makes it possible to fasten the seat assembly to the sanitary bowl quickly and easily, by means of a mounting plate which is pre-fixed to the sanitary bowl and then receives the seat assembly, coupling and locking it.

The mounting plate has a grid of holes that allows the relative position of the respective fastening elements for fastening to the sanitary bowl to be changed, depending on which holes are used. This allows the variations in the distance between the holes formed on the sanitary bowl to be compensated for, while maintaining the correct position of the mounting plate (hence of the seat assembly) in relation to the sanitary bowl.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Number <NUM> in <FIG> indicates, as a whole, a fastening device for fastening a seat assembly <NUM> onto a sanitary bowl <NUM>, in particular a bowl of a toilet or a so-called smart toilet.

Also referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the fastening device <NUM> comprises a mounting plate <NUM>, to be fixed to the sanitary bowl <NUM>, and a base body <NUM> joined to the seat assembly <NUM> and cooperating with the mounting plate <NUM>, and in particular releasably joined to the mounting plate <NUM> via a snap-on coupling <NUM>.

The seat assembly <NUM> comprises a support <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, and a cover <NUM>; the support <NUM> can be connected to the sanitary bowl <NUM> via the fastening device <NUM>; the seat <NUM> and the cover <NUM> project from the support <NUM> and are hinged to each other and to the support <NUM>.

For example, the base body <NUM> is integrated in the seat assembly <NUM>, particularly in the support <NUM>, or is a part of the seat assembly <NUM>, or is joined or connectable to the seat assembly <NUM>, and in particular to the support <NUM>.

The sanitary bowl <NUM> is known per se and has an upper surface <NUM> provided with a pair of fastening holes <NUM> to receive respective fastening elements, for example bolts (known and not shown).

The mounting plate <NUM> is substantially flat and has an upper face <NUM> and a lower face <NUM> opposite each other; the mounting plate <NUM> has a bottom edge <NUM> projecting from the lower face <NUM> and, in use, rests on the surface <NUM> of the sanitary bowl <NUM>, keeping the face <NUM> spaced from the surface <NUM>.

Also referring to <FIG>, the mounting plate <NUM> additionally has a pair of lateral edges <NUM> that can be inserted in respective lateral guides <NUM> formed in the base body <NUM>.

The guides <NUM> are defined, in particular, by respective undercuts facing a lower surface of the base body <NUM>.

The guides <NUM> are shaped so that they receive the lateral edges <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM> and thus couple the mounting plate <NUM> and the base body <NUM> to each other in a direction perpendicular to the mounting plate <NUM>.

The mounting plate <NUM> and the base body <NUM> can slide relative to each other, with the lateral edges <NUM> slidably inserted in the respective guides <NUM>, up to an end stop defined by a rear edge <NUM> of the base body <NUM> against which a front edge <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM> abuts.

The mounting plate <NUM> further comprises a snap-on locking element <NUM>, defined by an elastic arm <NUM> projecting from the mounting plate <NUM>, and is delimited laterally by a pair of opposite slits <NUM>; the snap-on locking element <NUM> has a free end provided with a tooth <NUM> protruding beyond the front edge <NUM> and beyond the face <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM>.

The snap-on locking element <NUM> is shaped so as to engage a locking seat <NUM> formed in the base body <NUM>. In particular, the locking seat <NUM> is defined by a recess <NUM> formed in the rear edge <NUM> of the base body <NUM>.

The mounting plate <NUM> and the base body <NUM> are releasably joined to each other by means of the lateral edges <NUM> and the respective guides <NUM> and the snap-on locking element <NUM> and the respective locking seat <NUM>, together defining the snap-on coupling <NUM>.

Also referring to <FIG>, the mounting plate <NUM> has at least one pair of housings <NUM> configured to receive respective adjustment members <NUM>.

The housings <NUM> are positioned, in particular, in proximity to the front edge <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM>; and in proximity to respective opposite lateral edges <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM>.

Each housing <NUM> comprises a through window <NUM> which extends between the opposite faces <NUM>, <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM>; and two lateral coupling zones <NUM> positioned on opposite sides of the window <NUM> and, for example, recessed relative to the face <NUM>; however, it is understood that the coupling zones <NUM> can also be flush with the face <NUM>, or even project beyond the face <NUM>. Each coupling zone <NUM> comprises a plurality of holes <NUM> extending parallel to each other and perpendicular to the mounting plate <NUM>.

In particular, each coupling zone <NUM> comprises holes <NUM> arranged side-by-side along two directions perpendicular to each other.

In the example shown, the holes <NUM> are arranged in rows and columns, but it is understood that the holes <NUM> can be arranged in different patterns.

For example, but not necessarily, the holes <NUM> have a circular cross-section and are substantially cylindrical or truncated-conical in shape (flared downwards, i.e., towards the face <NUM>).

Each adjustment member <NUM> has a plate-shaped body longitudinally elongated along a major axis A. In particular, the adjustment member <NUM> comprises a central portion <NUM> provided with a central through opening <NUM> overlapping with the window <NUM>; and a pair of opposite lateral wings <NUM> extending from the portion <NUM> along the axis A and provided with respective pins <NUM> projecting from a lower face of the adjustment member <NUM> and configured to engage respective holes <NUM> in the mounting plate <NUM>.

Therefore, the pins <NUM> have a shape and size such as to be inserted in respective holes <NUM>, in particular a shape corresponding to that of the holes <NUM>, for example a substantially cylindrical or truncated-conical shape; however, it is understood that both the holes <NUM> and the pins <NUM> may have different shapes.

Preferably, each wing <NUM> is provided with a plurality of side-by-side pins <NUM>, arranged according to a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the holes <NUM> so as to engage respective holes <NUM> in respective coupling zones <NUM>.

The adjustment member <NUM> is shaped and dimensioned so as to be housed in a housing <NUM> with the portion <NUM> and the central opening <NUM> above the window <NUM>; and with the wings <NUM> projecting beyond the window <NUM> and above respective coupling zones <NUM>.

In particular, the adjustment member <NUM> has a length (as measured along the axis A between respective free ends of the wings <NUM>) greater than the window <NUM>; and a width (as measured perpendicularly to the axis A) less than the window <NUM>.

Since each housing <NUM> has a plurality of holes <NUM> on opposite sides of the window <NUM>, the adjustment member <NUM> can be inserted in different positions in the housing <NUM> by inserting the pins <NUM> of the adjustment member <NUM> in respective different holes <NUM>. It is thus possible to adjust the position of the adjustment member <NUM> in relation to the mounting plate <NUM> along two directions perpendicular to each other, and therefore align the central opening <NUM> of the adjustment member <NUM> with a fastening hole <NUM> on the sanitary bowl <NUM>.

Advantageously, the mounting plate <NUM>, the base body <NUM>, and the adjustment members <NUM> consist of respective monolithic pieces made of plastic (polymer material), e.g., injection moulded.

In use, in order to mount the seat assembly <NUM> onto the sanitary bowl <NUM>, the mounting plate <NUM> is first mounted onto the sanitary bowl <NUM> and then fixed by means of the adjustment members <NUM>.

The adjustment members <NUM> allow the position of the mounting plate <NUM> on the sanitary bowl <NUM> to be adjusted, thus compensating for any possible deviation in the position of the fastening holes <NUM> of the sanitary bowl <NUM>.

Basically, the mounting plate <NUM> is placed in the correct position on the sanitary bowl <NUM>, regardless of the position of the fastening holes <NUM>; the adjustment members <NUM> are then placed in the respective housings <NUM> so that the central openings <NUM> are aligned with respective fastening holes <NUM> of the sanitary bowl <NUM> and with the pins <NUM> which engage respective holes <NUM>.

The respective bolts or other fastening elements are then inserted and tightened in the central openings <NUM> and in the fastening holes <NUM>. The pins <NUM> that engage the holes <NUM> prevent the mounting plate <NUM> from moving sideways when tightening the bolts.

The seat assembly <NUM> is then fastened to the mounting plate <NUM> via the base body <NUM>.

The base body <NUM> is placed on the surface <NUM> of the sanitary bowl <NUM> in front of the front edge <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM>; the base body <NUM> is then slid over the surface <NUM> to overlap the mounting plate <NUM>, inserting the lateral edges <NUM> of the mounting plate <NUM> in the respective lateral guides <NUM> of the base body <NUM>.

The base body <NUM> slides in relation to the mounting plate <NUM> until the snap-on locking element <NUM> engages the respective locking seat <NUM>.

To disassemble the seat assembly <NUM> from the sanitary bowl <NUM>, it is sufficient to release the snap-on locking element <NUM>, by pressing the tooth <NUM>, and slide out the seat assembly <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A fastening device (<NUM>) for fastening a seat assembly (<NUM>) onto a sanitary bowl (<NUM>), comprising a mounting plate (<NUM>), to be fixed to the sanitary bowl (<NUM>), and a base body (<NUM>), joined or connectable to the seat assembly (<NUM>) and cooperating with the mounting plate (<NUM>); the mounting plate (<NUM>) having at least one pair of housings (<NUM>) configured to receive respective adjustment members (<NUM>); each adjustment member (<NUM>) being provided with a through central opening (<NUM>) for insertion of a bolt or another fastening element, and being configured so as to be inserted in a housing (<NUM>) in a position selected from a plurality of positions, and so as to change the position of the adjustment member (<NUM>) with respect to the mounting plate (<NUM>) along two directions perpendicular to each other; wherein each housing (<NUM>) comprises a through window (<NUM>) which extends between two opposite faces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the mounting plate (<NUM>); and two lateral coupling zones (<NUM>), positioned on opposite sides of the window (<NUM>) ; characterized in that the lateral coupling zones (<NUM>) are provided with respective pluralities of holes (<NUM>) arranged in a preset pattern; and wherein the adjustment member (<NUM>) is provided with pins (<NUM>) projecting from a lower face of the adjustment member (<NUM>), positioned on opposite sides of the central opening (<NUM>), and configured to engage respective holes (<NUM>) formed in the housing (<NUM>) of the mounting plate (<NUM>).