Patent ID: 7240377

Claim:
A dual mode seat system for a toilet having a toilet front portion and a toilet back portion, comprising: a toilet seat having a seat front end and a seat back end; a hinge having a hinge front end and a hinge back end, wherein the hinge front end is joined with the toilet seat proximate the seat back end and the hinge back end is joinable with the toilet proximate the toilet back portion; a support joined to the toilet seat proximate the seat front end and projecting away from the toilet seat such that the support is located between the toilet seat and the toilet proximate the toilet front portion when the toilet seat is positioned overlying the toilet wherein the support comprises a post and the post includes a low mode ridge on an inside surface and a high mode ridge on an outside surface; and, wherein the hinge moves the toilet seat in a direction towards, and alternately, away from the toilet back portion and the hinge and the support together: (a) cooperate to maintain the toilet seat in a low mode which provides a low spacing between the toilet seat and the toilet and with the toilet seat in a substantially horizontal orientation, and alternatively, (b) cooperate to maintain the toilet seat in a high mode which provides a high spacing between the toilet seat and the toilet and with the toilet seat in the substantially horizontal orientation, and wherein the high spacing is greater than the low spacing.