Patent Application
20250025002
The present application relates to a fastener assembly, and more particularly to a fastener used to secure the seat of a toilet.
The sanitary hardware in most bathrooms is the flush toilet that operates on water. The flush toilet consists of a ceramic bowl, tank, and usually a wooden or plastic seat. The flush toilet is simple and efficient and operates on gravity or water pressure. The typical residential toilet is usually the gravity operating type and utilizes the water stored in a tank above the bowl to perform flushing. Other kinds of toilets may operate on water pressure to flush the bowl, but they are usually found in offices and industrial applications.
The interface where the human connects to the toilet is the seat. The toilet seat is usually attached through holes molded into the ceramic of the bowl by the manufacturer. A typical toilet seat is constructed of wood or some other sturdy material such as plastic. The connection to the ceramic bowl would typically be achieved by a pair of bolts that pass through the manufactured holes and are secured by nuts and washers on the underside of the bowl. The manufacturer of the toilet seat would typically provide the attachment materials.
Attaching a typical toilet set to a ceramic bowl is usually a simple process but can become somewhat complicated depending on the type of connections provided.
Tightening the nuts on the bottom and attaching them in such a confined space is inconvenient and inefficient. The process is also unpleasant since the user is working on a toilet, and the ceramic can be delicate. Plastic and nylon materials are often used, and getting that material to stay tight can be problematic. Usually resulting in repeated tightening of the mechanical attachment system.
Although strides have been made, shortcomings remain.
It is an object of the present application to replace complex and often unreliable toilet seat fittings with an easy, efficient, secure mounting system. The assembly of the present application includes a mounting tube with a threaded rod passing through it. The assembly is configured to selectively and easily secure the toilet seat to the toilet by compressing opposing sides of the toilet. A rotating cam is located on the top of a metal rod and is linked to a wedge that is seated firmly against the bottom of the tube. Rotation of the cam compresses the opposing sides of the toilet seat between the wedge and the cam.
Ultimately the invention may take many embodiments. In these ways, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the prior art. The more important features have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and to ensure that the present contribution to the art is appreciated. Additional features will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.
Many objects of the present application will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the various purposes of the present design. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present application.
The novel features believed characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the embodiments and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the application to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the devices, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the embodiments described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.
The embodiments and method will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the assembly may be presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless otherwise described.
Referring now to the Figures wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout the several views. The following Figures describe embodiments of the present application and its associated features. With reference now to the Figures, embodiments of the present application are herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
The E-Z seat fastener assembly of the present application is configured to replace complex and often unreliable toilet seat fittings with an easy, efficient, secure mounting system. The assembly includes a mounting tube with a threaded rod passing through it. At a second end of the threaded rod is a threaded wedge, and at a first end of the threaded rod is a rotating cam. The mounting tube is configured to expand and retract as necessary to facilitate fastening a toilet seat to a toilet. The mounting tube is placed in the seat mounting holes of the toilet and the wedge is screwed onto the metal rod that extends through the center of the tube. The rotating cam is located on the top of the metal rod and a pin connects it to the threaded rod. When the wedge is seated firmly against the bottom of the tube, the cam is rotated toward the toilet tank. The rotating motion forces the wedge into the bottom of the tube creating a tight secure fit and eliminating fiddling with bolts, nuts, and the assembly is efficient and straightforward to operate and keeps the seat of the toilet on the ceramic surface securely.
Referring now to
As seen in
Referring now to
Tube 105 includes an upper flange 110 that is formed along an upper surface of tube 105. Also of note is an expansion slot 111 formed longitudinally along a side of tube 105. Rod 103 is configured to connect Cam 109 with wedge 107. It is understood that tube 105 is configured to pass within the holes of seed 99 and toilet 97. Rotation of Cam 109 to the lowered position elevates wedge 107 and induces an expansion of tube 105 within the holes of the seat 99 and toilet 97.
Referring now also to
In operation assembly 101 is passed through the seat mounting holes of seat 99 and toilet 97. Mounting tube 105 passes there through. Wedge 107 is threaded up to contact with mounting tube 105. Flange 110 makes contact with an upper surface of seat 99.
Once the assembly is complete, the rotating cam 109 on the top of the metal rod 103 is rotated by the user toward the toilet tank 95. The cam 109 will force the wedge 107 into the base of the tube 105, creating a tight and secure connection. The process is repeated for the other accompanying mounting hole in the ceramic toilet. Once that process is completed, the toilet seat installation is complete. Crawling under the toilet to find the connection or turning nuts and screws is not required. Assembly 101 is simple and highly efficient and will hold the seat securely for the life of the seat. Assembly 101 would come attached to the seat's hinges and can be provided by manufacturers or sold as a retrofit to replace faulty existing attachment systems. Assembly 101 will make securing a seat to a toilet fast, easy, and efficient, eliminating the difficulty of tools and other hardware.
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the application may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. It is apparent that an application with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date and right of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/514,772, filed 20 Jul. 2023, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63514772 | Jul 2023 | US |
