SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates to toilet seat assemblies, and more particularly to non-elevated toilet seat assemblies that assist in helping a person to sit down on and stand up from a toilet.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a toilet seat assembly for a toilet. The toilet seat assembly includes a hinge post configured to be coupled to the toilet, and a toilet seat rotatably coupled to the hinge post and defining a bottom surface that is configured to face the toilet. The toilet seat includes a ring having a support surface opposite the bottom surface and configured to support a person when sitting on the toilet, a first wing extending from a first side of the ring, and a second wing extending from a second side of the ring opposite the first side. The toilet seat assembly further includes a first handle extending upwardly from the first wing and oriented perpendicularly relative to the bottom surface of the toilet seat and a second handle extending upwardly from the second wing and oriented perpendicularly relative to the bottom surface of the toilet seat. The first and second handles are configured to be gripped by the person.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a toilet seat assembly for a toilet. The toilet seat assembly includes a hinge post configured to be coupled to the toilet and a toilet seat rotatably coupled to the hinge post and defining a bottom surface that is configured to face the toilet. The toilet seat includes a ring having a support surface opposite the bottom surface and configured to support a person when sitting on the toilet, an outer perimeter, and an inner perimeter defining an opening. The toilet seat assembly further includes a first wing integrally formed with the ring and extending from the outer perimeter of the ring on a first side of the ring, and a second wing integrally formed with the ring and extending from the outer perimeter of the ring on a second side of the ring opposite the first side. Moreover, the toilet seat assembly includes a first handle coupled to the first wing and configured to be gripped by the person, a second handle coupled to the second wing and configured to be gripped by the person, and a plurality of ribs formed on the bottom surface of the toilet seat to provide support to the toilet seat.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a toilet seat assembly for a toilet. The toilet seat assembly includes a hinge post configured to be coupled to the toilet and a toilet seat rotatably coupled to the hinge post and defining a bottom surface that is configured to face the toilet. The toilet seat includes a ring having a support surface opposite the bottom surface and configured to support a person when sitting on the toilet, a first wing extending from a first side of the ring, and a second wing extending from a second side of the ring. The first wing has a rear portion adjacent the hinge post and a front portion opposite the rear portion. The second wing has a rear portion adjacent to the hinge post and a front portion opposite the rear portion. Moreover, the toilet seat assembly includes a first handle coupled to the first wing and configured to be gripped by a person, and a second handle coupled to the second wing and configured to be gripped by the person. At least a portion of the first handle extends beyond the front portion the first wing. At least a portion of the second handle extends beyond the front portion of the second wing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1, the toilet seat assembly is illustrated without a lid.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front-side view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1, with portions of the toilet seat assembly removed.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a first handle of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 6, taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a toilet seat assembly 10. The toilet seat assembly 10 is configured to be pivotably coupled to a toilet 14 (FIG. 5). The illustrated toilet seat assembly 10 may also be referred to as a non-elevated toilet seat assembly 10. The toilet seat assembly 10 includes a toilet seat 18 pivotably coupled to the toilet 14 by a hinge post 22. The hinge post 22 allows the toilet seat 18 to pivot about a hinge axis 26 (FIG. 2) between a first position and a second position. The first position is a raised or upright position. The second position is a lowered or in-use position when the toilet seat 18 is configured to engage a surface of the toilet 14. The toilet seat assembly 10 further includes a lid 30 pivotably coupled to the toilet seat 18 by the hinge post 22, such that the lid 30 is configured to pivot about the hinge axis 26 between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the lid 30 engages and covers the toilet seat 18. In the open position, the lid 30 disengages and is spaced from the toilet seat 18.
In reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the hinge post 22 includes two post members 38 configured to be coupled to the toilet 14. Each post member 38 includes a base 42 with an upright portion 46 coupled to the toilet seat 18 and the lid 30 via a pin 50 that defines the hinge axis 26. Each post member 38 further includes a plate 54 and a cover 58 coupled to the base 42. The plate 54 is disposed within the base 42 and includes an elongated aperture 62 (e.g., elongated slot). To couple the post members 38 to the toilet 14, a pair of fasteners are respectively inserted through the elongated apertures 62 and into mounting apertures that extend through the toilet 14. The elongated apertures 62 allow the position of the toilet seat assembly 10 to be adjusted relative to the toilet 14. As such, the post members 38 may slide relative to the toilet 14 in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis 26 before the fasteners are fully tightened to fix the post members 38 to the toilet 14.
With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the illustrated toilet seat 18 includes a ring 70, a first wing 74 coupled to the ring 70, and a second wing 78 also coupled to the ring 70. Specifically, the first wing 74 extends from a first side 91 of the ring 70 and the second wing 78 extends from a second side 92 of the ring 70 opposite the first side 91. That said, the first and second wings 74, 78 are connected to the ring 70 along junctures 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second wings 74, 78 are integrally formed (e.g., molded) with the ring 70. In other embodiments, the first and second wings 74, 78 may be separate pieces that are secured to the ring 70. The toilet seat 18 includes a bottom surface 86 that faces the toilet 14. The bottom surface 86 is flat or planar. Also, the ring 70 has a support surface 82 opposite the bottom surface 86 and configured to support a person sitting on the toilet seat assembly 10. The ring 70 further includes an outer perimeter 90 (e.g., outer edge) defined between the support surface 82 and the bottom surface 86, and an inner perimeter 94 (e.g., inner edge) defined between the support surface 82 and the bottom surface 86. The inner perimeter 94 defines an opening 98. In addition, the toilet seat 18 is formed of a first material. In the illustrated embodiment, the first material is a plastic, while in other embodiments, the first material is some other suitable material.
In reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the first and second wings 74, 78 are identical in structure and each has an outer edge 104 defined between a top surface 106 and the bottom surface 86. The outer edge 104 of each wing 74, 78 has a curved surface 114 spaced away from the ring 70. Each wing 74, 78 further includes a first bore 118 and a second bore 122 extending into the first and second wings 74, 78. The first bore 118 is disposed at the front portion of the toilet seat assembly 10 and the second bore 122 is disposed at a rear portion of the toilet seat assembly 10 that is adjacent the hinge post 22. Each bore 118, 122 includes a pair of recesses 126 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 6).
In reference to FIG. 5, the ring 70 of the toilet seat 18 defines a ring thickness T1 extending between the support surface 82 of the ring 70 and the bottom surface 86 of the toilet seat 18 proximate the outer perimeter 90 of the ring 70. The first and second wings 74, 78 each define a wing thickness T2 extending between the top surface 106 of each wing 74, 78 and the bottom surface 86 proximate the outer edge 104. At the juncture 102, the ring thickness T1 is substantially equal to the wing thickness T2. In addition, the wing thickness T2 of each wing 74, 78 increases in a direction extending away from the ring 70 of the toilet seat 18 to increase the amount of material used to form the first and second wings 74, 78. As such, a maximum wing thickness T2 of each wing 74, 78 is greater than a maximum ring thickness T1 of the ring 70. The increase of the wing thickness T2 provides structural strength to the first and second wings 74, 78.
In reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 6, the toilet seat assembly 10 further includes a first handle 130 and a second handle 134. The illustrated handles 130, 134 are independent or separate components from the toilet seat 18. The first handle 130 is configured to be coupled to first wing 74, such that the first handle 130 is adjacent the first side 91 of the ring 70. The second handle 134 is configured to be coupled to the second wing 78, such that the second handle 134 is adjacent the second side 92 of the ring 70. The first and second handles 130, 134 extend perpendicular to the bottom surface 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second handles 130, 134 are removably coupled to the toilet seat 18. In other embodiments, the first and second handles 130, 134 may be permanently coupled to the toilet seat 18.
The first and second handles 130, 134 are identical in structure. In the illustrated embodiment, each handle 130, 134 includes a first loop 138, a second loop 142, and a grip portion 146 disposed on the first loop 138. The second loop 142 includes a forwardmost point 144 that extends beyond a front portion of a corresponding wing 74, 78. The first and second handles 130, 134 each define a T-shaped cross-section (FIG. 7) outside the grip portion 146. In addition, the first and second handles 130, 134 are formed of a second material that is different from the first material (e.g., the material of the toilet seat 18). The second material may be more rigid than the first material. For example, the first material may be a homogenous plastic, while the second material may be a glass-filled plastic. In other embodiments, the second material may be some other suitable material.
The first and second handles 130, 134 each include two posts 154 (FIG. 6) that couple to the first and second bores 118, 122 via snap-fit mechanisms. Specifically, each post 154 includes a tab 158 configured to engage the recess 126 of the first and second bores 118, 122 when the first and second handles 130, 134 are coupled to the first and second wings 74, 78, respectively. In other embodiments, tabs 158 may be located in each bore 118, 122, while recesses 126 may be formed on each post 154. As such, each post 154 is configured to be respectively received within the first and second bores 118, 122 of each wing 74, 78, with the first loop 138 being disposed adjacent the rear portion of the toilet seat assembly 10 and the second loop 142 being disposed adjacent the front portion of the toilet seat assembly 10.
The grip portion 146 is integrally formed with the first and second handles 130, 134 and is configured to be gripped to assist the person in sitting down on the toilet seat 18 or standing up from the toilet seat 18. A plurality of indentations 162 (FIG. 1) are formed on and extend along a length of the grip portion 146. The illustrated grip portion 146 defines a cavity 166 configured to receive a gripping member 170 that extends along a bottom portion of the grip portion 146. The cavity 166 faces the top surface 106 of the first and second wings 74, 78.
The gripping member 170 may be formed of a third material that is different from the first material of the toilet seat 18 and the second material of the first and second handles 130, 134. The third material may be softer than the first material and the second material. In some embodiments, the third material may be rubber or elastomeric material. As such, the gripping member 170 provides a soft gripping surface for the person using the toilet seat assembly 10 as their hand wraps around the grip portion 146.
In reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the illustrated toilet seat assembly 10 includes a first plurality of ribs 174 and a second plurality of ribs 178 formed along the toilet seat 18. The first plurality of ribs 174 is formed along the bottom surface 86 of the ring 70, such that the first plurality of ribs 174 extends continuously between the inner perimeter 94 of the ring 70 and the outer edge 104 of each wing 74, 78. In the illustrated embodiment, the first plurality of ribs 174 includes four ribs on each side of the toilet seat 18. In some embodiments, the first plurality of ribs 174 may include fewer or more than four ribs on each side. The first plurality of ribs 174 is configured to provide structural rigidity to the ring 70 and each wing 74, 78 and support the toilet seat 18 when in the lowered position. The second plurality of ribs 178 is formed along the bottom surface 86 of the ring 70 at the front portion of the toilet seat assembly 10. The second plurality of ribs 178 extends from the inner perimeter 94 of the ring 70 to the outer perimeter 90 of the ring 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the second plurality of ribs 178 includes five ribs. In some embodiments, the second plurality of ribs 178 may include fewer or more than five ribs. The toilet seat assembly 10 further includes a third plurality of ribs or transverse ribs 182 to provide further structural rigidity. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse ribs 182 are formed by two curved ribs respectively extending along the juncture 102 between the ring 70 and each wing 74, 78. Specifically, the transverse ribs 182 extend transversely through the first plurality of ribs 174, from the connecting edge 102 to a rear edge 186 (FIG. 4) of the toilet seat 18. The transverse ribs 182 also define a boundary of the toilet seat 18 without the wings 74, 78.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first and second plurality of ribs 174, 178 extend beyond the bottom surface 86 of the ring 70 toward the toilet 14. As such, the first and second plurality of ribs 174, 178 are configured to engage the toilet 14 when the toilet seat 18 is in the lowered position. In addition, the first and second plurality of ribs 174, 178 each extend along a different direction radiating from a common point 184 located within the opening 98 of the toilet seat 18. Each of the ribs 174, 178 is thereby linear. In other embodiments, some or all of the ribs 174, 178 may be non-linear (e.g., curved, irregular, etc.).
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention. Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20230233042
