The present invention relates to automatically lowering a toilet seat.

It is an important object of this invention to provide improved methods and means for automatically lowering a toilet seat after a predetermined time has elapsed. According to the invention, shifts in the center of gravity of a movable mass associated with a toilet seat automatically lower the toilet seat.

According to one aspect of the invention, a toilet seat assembly includes a mount for attachment of the toilet seat to a conventional toilet bowl. The toilet seat is rotatably connected to the mount for movement between a first upright position and a lowered position. A chamber containing a movable mass is associated with the toilet seat. The mass moves in response to the force of gravity resulting in the movement of the center of gravity of the toilet seat from a first non-closing position to a second closing position causing the toilet seat to automatically rotate about the mount from the first upright position to the lowered position. According to another aspect of the invention, the chamber is located within the toilet seat. According to another aspect of the invention an underside of the toilet seat defines a track and the chamber is removably mounted to the toilet seat in the track. According to another aspect of the invention, the toilet seat assembly includes a connection of the toilet seat to the mount constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of the toilet seat about the mount to selectively maintain the toilet seat in a second upright

position. The mount includes a flexible hinge and the toilet seat includes a protrusion. The flexible hinge has arms for receiving the protrusion. The protrusion is constructed and arranged to rest against the flexible hinge when the toilet seat is in the first upright position, and to lock within the flexible hinge when the toilet seat is in the second upright position.

According to another aspect of the invention the mass is a fluid; the fluid has a selected viscosity related to the rate of movement of the fluid. According to another aspect of the invention, the mass is a solid. According to another aspect of the invention, the toilet seat has a lower surface for engagement with the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is in the lowered position. The toilet seat has cushioning attached to the lower surface to cushion the impact of the toilet seat against the toilet bowl when the toilet seat rotates from the first upright position to the lowered position. The cushioning comprises an elastic material. The elastic material is surgical rubber tubing. The cushioning includes a firm material which carries the load of the user when the user sits on the toilet seat. The firm material is a rubber pad.

According to another aspect of the invention, the chamber is constructed and arranged such that the toilet seat, after being lifted into the first upright position, remains in the first upright position for a predetermined time while flow of the mass occurs resulting in the toilet seat lowering to the lowered position after the predetermined time. According to another aspect of the invention, the chamber has an hourglass shaped flow restriction related to the rate of movement of the movable mass.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of using the toilet seat assembly includes

applying a force to the toilet seat to lift the toilet seat, removing the applied force, and allowing the movable mass to move in response to the force of gravity such that the center of gravity of the movable mass shifts from the first non-closing position to the second closing position to automatically close the toilet seat.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of using the toilet seat assembly includes applying a first force to the toilet seat to lift the toilet seat, and applying a second force to the toilet seat to lock the protrusion within the flexible hinge to hold the toilet seat in the second upright position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method includes applying a third force to the toilet seat in a direction opposite the second force to release the toilet seat from the second upright position.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional toilet bowl employing the automatic toilet seat lowering assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the automatic toilet seat lowering assembly with the toilet seat in a first upright position;

FIG. 2a is a diagrammatic representation of the automatic toilet seat lowering assembly with the toilet seat in a lowered position; FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of the toilet seat locking mechanism of the invention with the toilet seat in the first upright position;

FIG. 3a is a rear view of one of the toilet seat locking mechanisms of the invention positioned with the toilet seat in a second upright locked position;

FIG. 3b is a side view of the toilet seat of FIG. 3a with the toilet seat in the second upright locked position;

FIG. 4 shows cushioning located on the underside of the toilet seat; and

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the automatic toilet seat lowering assembly.

With reference now to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a toilet seat assembly 10 for automatically lowering a toilet seat 12. Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 2a, a seat mount 20 is provided for attachment of toilet seat assembly 10 to a conventional toilet bowl 16. Seat 12 is rotatably connected to seat mount 20 at a point of rotation 22 for movement of toilet seat 12 along arrow 14.

Toilet seat 12 defines at least one chamber 24 containing a movable mass 26, e.g., liquid, fine sand, or metal balls, which moves in response to the force of gravity. A flow restriction 32 in chamber 24 limits the rate of flow of mass 26.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2a, when toilet seat 12 is closed, mass 26 tends to collect toward chamber end 28. When the toilet seat is raised to a first upright position (FIG. 2), the center of gravity of mass 26 is initially in a non-closing position 30 (shown to the left of a vertical axis A through the point of rotation 22) . Mass 26 then flows downward due to the force of gravity and the center of gravity of mass 26 shifts to a closing position 38 (shown to the right of axis A) resulting in the automatic lowering of toilet seat 12.

The time that it takes for toilet seat 12 to begin lowering after it has been raised to an upright position is predetermined by the orientation of chamber 24, the shape of flow restriction 32 and the properties of mass

26. For example, a more horizontally orientated chamber 24, a smaller flow restriction 32, or a mass 26 of a liquid of high viscosity would tend to slow the flow of mass 26. Referring to Figs. 3-3b, two flexible hinges 40, 40' located on seat mount 20 are provided to enable the user to lock the toilet seat in place in a second upright position, e.g., for cleaning the toilet or because the seat has just been lowered and enough time has not elapsed for the mass to redistribute. To lock toilet seat 12 in the second upright position, a hinge mount 48 fixedly attached to toilet seat 12 and including protrusion 46 is received by arms 42, 44 of hinge 40. By applying a small amount of extra opening force, protrusion 46 pushes arms 42, 44 apart and locks in place between arms 42, 44 (Fig. 3a). Protrusion 46 is easily removed from flexible hinge 40 by applying a small amount of force in the seat closing direction. Flexible hinge 40' works in a similar manner. Referring to FIG. 4, cushioning on the underside 52 of toilet seat 12 cushions the impact when toilet seat 12 falls and contacts toilet bowl 16. The cushioning includes a soft flexible elastic material 54, e.g., surgical rubber tubing, to initially cushion the impact of contact between seat 12 and toilet bowl 16, and a firmer, more rigid material 56, e.g. , rubber or plastic pads, which carries the load while the user is sitting on toilet seat 12. Additionally, rotation point 22 can have enough friction to limit the speed of closing of toilet seat 12.

All parts may be formed from injection molded plastic. In an exemplary embodiment, toilet seat 12 is formed of a clear plastic and mass 26 includes decorative features, e.g., colored sparkles, which can be seen within chamber 24 through the clear plastic of toilet

seat 12. In an additional embodiment, toilet seat 12 defines two chambers.

Referring to FIG. 5, in an alternative embodiment, chamber 124 may be removably mounted within a track 160 on the underside 152 of toilet seat 112. In one embodiment, chamber 124 is formed of a clear plastic allowing viewing of the movable mass contained therein. In an exemplary embodiment, toilet seat 112 defines a second track 160' for receiving a second chamber 124' as shown in FIG. 5.

It can be seen that the automatic toilet seat lowering assembly of the invention is applicable to lid closing as well.

Other embodiments are within the following claims.