Patent ID: 8214931

Claim:
A toilet seat hinge comprising: a base portion connectable to a toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material; a leaf portion connectable to a toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; and a living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion; wherein the toilet seat includes a ring and a cover, and wherein the leaf portion includes a ring leaf connectable to the ring, and a cover leaf connectable to the cover, and wherein the living hinge portion pivotally connects the ring leaf to the base portion and pivotally connects the cover leaf to the base portion; wherein the living hinge portion has thereon a first axially-extending rib adjacent the ring leaf and a second axially-extending rib adjacent the cover leaf, the first and second ribs functioning as flexible lip seals that conform to the surface of the attached ring or cover to prevent any gaps once the hinge is assembled to the ring and the cover.