Description

INSTALLING AND REMOVING DEVICE FOR TOILET SEAT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a toilet seat that is used for a toilet bowl and, more particularly, to a device for detachably attaching a toilet seat, which enables a toilet seat to be easily mounted on or removed from the upper surface of the main body of a toilet bowl. Background Art

[2] Generally, typical toilet bowls 10 are installed in bathrooms or restrooms. As for the toilet bowl 10, as shown in FIG. 9, a main body 11 is mounted on a floor of the bathroom so as to discharge the excrement of a user to a septic tank. A water tank 12 is mounted behind the main body 11 so as to store water for washing down the excrement. A toilet seat 13 includes a cover, and is mounted on the main body 11 using fastening bolts and nuts 14 and 14a coupled through the installation holes 1 Ia of the main body 11 so as to enable the user to sit on the seat.

[3] However, the typical toilet bowl is problematic in that the coupling process of fastening the toilet seat to the main body of the toilet bowl is inconvenient, and in that the installation holes of the main body are formed to have different intervals according to manufacturing companies, so that the work for installing the toilet seat becomes complicated and, in addition, the time taken to install the toilet seat is increased, with the result that the efficiency of work is lowered and, in addition, it becomes difficult to perform maintenance for the product.

[4] Furthermore, problems occur in that, in the case where the nuts coupled to the fastening bolts are too strongly tightened, the phenomenon in which the fastening bolts are broken may occur, and in that reliability of the product is lowered because the movement of the nuts, depending on the tightened state of the nuts coupled to the fastening bolts, may cause noise and inconvenience in use.

[5] In order to solve these problems, the inventor of the present invention invented a

"fastening structure for seats and bidets," which was disclosed in Korean Pat. Appl. No. 2006-34247 (or Korean Pat. No. 10-705647).

[6] In the disclosed structure, coupling members are fixedly fastened to the suction members in the state in which a plurality of suction members is mounted on a bracket to be in close contact with the upper surface of a main body. Subsequently, the bracket is held in the coupling space of the toilet seat.

[7] However, the disclosed structure is problematic in that the process of fastening the suction members using suction by separately turning the coupling members, cor-

responding to the suction members, with a hand is inconvenient, and in that a lot of installation time is required.

[8] Furthermore, in the case where the surroundings of the bracket are unsanitary due to the presence of bacteria attributable to foreign materials, the toilet seat and the upper surface of the main body of the toilet bowl must be cleaned in the state in which the toilet seat is removed from the bracket and then the coupling members are separated from the suction members, so that the efficiency of work is lowered and, in addition, it becomes difficult to perform maintenance for the product. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for detachably attaching a toilet seat, which enables a toilet seat to be easily mounted on or removed from the upper surface of the main body of a toilet bowl, thus reducing the installation time for the toilet seat, and which allows for the easy maintenance of the toilet seat and the easy cleaning of the main body, thus ensuring the sanitary use of the toilet bowl. Technical Solution

[10] The present invention provides a device for detachably attaching a toilet seat, including: a plurality of suction parts mounted to the lower surface of a toilet seat, and configured such that the suction element of each suction part is fastened to the upper surface of the main body of a toilet bowl using suction caused by the pressure that is applied to a toilet seat in the vertical direction; an actuating unit configured to release the suction parts from the upper surface of the main body of the toilet bowl; and a suction part releasing unit cooperating with the actuating unit so that the suction parts are released from the upper surface of the main body.

Advantageous Effects

[11] According to the present invention, the device for detachably attaching a toilet seat has advantages in that it enables the toilet seat, which includes a seat and cover and is seated on the upper surface of the main body, to be mounted on and removed from the main body of the toilet bowl, thus reducing the installation time for the toilet seat, and in that it allows for the easy maintenance of the toilet seat and the easy cleaning of the main body, thus ensuring the sanitary use of the toilet bowl. Brief Description of the Drawings

[12] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a toilet seat according to the present invention;

[13] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the toilet seat according to the present invention;

[14] FIG. 3 is a view showing the installation of a bidet, to which the toilet seat according to the present invention is mounted;

[15] FIG. 4 is a view showing the installation of the toilet seat according to the present invention;

[16] FIGS. 5 to 8 are views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat according to the present invention; and

[17] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the installation of a typical toilet seat, which is mounted to the main body of a toilet bowl.

[18] <Description of characters of principal elements>

[19] 100: suction part 110: suction element

[20] 120: rib 130: connection hole

[21] 200: actuating unit 210: pressing lever

[22] 220: actuating lever 230: restoration spring

[23] 240: support

[24] 300: suction part releasing unit

[25] 310: connection member 320: wire

[26] 330: ascent and descent guide bars

[27] 340: fastening element 400: fastening part

[28] 410: mounting hole 420: fastening hole

[29] 430: guide hole

Mode for the Invention

[30] The present invention includes a plurality of suction parts, which is mounted to the lower surface of a toilet seat and is configured such that a suction element of each suction part is fastened to the upper surface of the main body of a toilet bowl using suction caused by the pressure that is applied to the toilet seat in the vertical direction, an actuating unit, which is configured to release the suction parts from the upper surface of the main body of the toilet bowl, and a suction part releasing unit, which cooperates with the actuating unit so that the suction parts can be released from the upper surface of the main body. An embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail.

[31] Each of the suction parts 100 is configured such that a connection hole 130, to which a connection member 310 of the suction part releasing unit 300 is fixedly fastened, is formed in the rib 120 of a suction element 110 so as to pass therethrough.

[32] The actuating unit 200 includes a pressing lever 210, which is configured to press the toilet seat 13 inwards from the outside of the toilet seat 13 so that the suction parts 100 can be released from the upper surface of the main body 11 of the toilet bowl 10, an actuating lever 220, which is configured so as to move a wire 320 in the direction

opposite the pressing lever 210 while rotating around a shaft 220a when the pressing lever 210 is pressed, a restoration spring 230, which is compressed to generate a restoring force when the pressing lever 210 is pressed, and is restored to its original position immediately after the pressure that is applied to the pressing lever 210 is removed, and a support 240, which is configured to protrude from the toilet seat 13 so as to support the restoration spring 230.

[33] Furthermore, the actuating lever 220 includes a lever body 222, having a coupling hole 221 that passes therethrough so as to be rotatably coupled to the shaft 220a, an actuation space 223, which is formed to pass through the lever body 222 in the longitudinal direction of the lever body 222 and is located on the pressing lever 210, a fastening element 224, which is fixedly inserted into the fastening depression 224a of the pressing lever 210 via the actuation space 223, and fastening pins 225, which are used to fasten the end of the wire 320 to the second side of the lever body 222.

[34] The suction part releasing unit 300 includes connection members 310 for connecting the suction parts 100 in pairs, a wire for connecting the connection members 310 with the actuating unit 200, and ascent and descent guide bars 330 for guiding the connection members 310 so that the connection members 310 connected to the wire 320 are vertically raised and lowered.

[35] The present invention may further include one or more pairs of fastening elements

340 for fastening the ascent and descent guide bars 330 to the toilet seat 13. It is preferred that engaging protrusions 341 be formed to protrude from respective inner sides of each fastening element 340 to prevent the ascent and descent guide bars 330 from being released upwards.

[36] Furthermore, the present invention may further include fastening parts 400 that are formed to pass through the lower surface of the toilet seat 13 so that the suction parts 100 can be mounted and fastened thereto. Each of the fastening parts 400 includes a mounting hole 410 formed in the lower surface of the toilet seat 13 so that any of the suction parts 100 is mounted thereto, a fastening hole 420 formed to communicate with the mounting hole 410 so that any of the suction parts 100 is fastened thereto, and a guide hole 430 formed to communicate with the mounting hole 410 so as to guide the ascent and descent of any of the connection members 310 of the suction part releasing unit 300.

[37] Furthermore, the fastening parts 400 are provided in pairs such that the fastening holes 420 are symmetric with each other to prevent movement of the toilet seat 13.

[38] Next, a process of coupling the toilet seat according to the present invention, constructed as described above, is described.

[39] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the toilet seat according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the toilet seat according to the present

invention.

[40] It should be noted that the toilet seat 13, which is applied to the present invention, may include a cover as well as a bidet.

[41] First, the pressing lever 210 of the actuating unit 200 is mounted in the movement guide hole 13a of the toilet seat 13 so that one end of the pressing lever 210 protrudes. The protrusions (not shown), which are formed to protrude from the circumferential surface of the pressing lever 210, are brought into close contact with the inner circumference of the movement guide hole 13a so as to prevent the pressing lever 210 from being released from the movement guide hole 13a. The restoration spring 230 is mounted between the other end of the pressing lever 210 and the support 240.

[42] Furthermore, when the lever body 222 moves toward the actuating unit 200 and, thus, the shaft 220a formed to protrude the inner surface of the toilet seat 13 is inserted into the coupling hole 221 of the actuating lever 220, the coupling hole 221 is coupled to the shaft 220a. In this case, the actuation space 223 formed to pass through the lever body in the longitudinal direction of the lever body 222 is located on the upper surface of the pressing lever 210. The fastening element 224 is downwardly inserted into the actuation space 223 and is then rotated in one direction, and thus the lever body 222 is fastened to the pressing lever 210.

[43] When the pressing lever 210 of the actuating unit 200 is coupled with the actuating lever 220 through the above-described process, the head portions of the suction parts 100 are inserted into the respective mounting holes 410 of the fastening parts 400 formed in the lower surface of the toilet seat 13. In this state, the suction parts 100 move toward the respective fastening holes 420 formed to communicate with the respective mounting holes 410. In this case, the fastening holes 420 are formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the mounting holes 410, so that the portions between the head portions of the suction parts 100 and the suction elements 110 can be mounted.

[44] In this case, it is preferred that the rib 120 protruding from the upper surface of each suction element 110 be in line with each guide hole 430 in the vertical direction. In this manner, the suction parts 100 are fixedly inserted into the respective fastening holes 42 0 of the fastening parts 400.

[45] Furthermore, the fastening holes 420 of the fastening parts 400 are symmetrically provided in pairs. The connection members 310 of the suction part releasing unit 300 are fixedly inserted into the respective connection holes 130 of the suction parts 100 mounted in the symmetric fastening holes 420. In this case, the connection members 310 must be located in the respective guide holes 430.

[46] When the connection members 310 of the suction part releasing unit 300 are fixedly inserted into the respective connection holes 130 of the suction part 100, the ascent and

descent guide bars 330 are coupled to the fastening elements 340, which are formed to protrude to the upper surface of the toilet seat 13 outside the fastening holes 420. The ascent and descent guide bars 330 are inserted into the fastening elements 340 and are then engaged with the engaging protrusions 341 formed to protrude from the inner surfaces of the fastening elements 340, so that the ascent and descent guide bars 330 can be prevented from being released from the fastening elements 340.

[47] When the ascent and descent guide bars 330 are coupled to the fastening elements

340, the connection members 310 are placed above the ascent and descent guide bars 330 and then the central portions of the connection members 310 are wound by the wire 320 so that the connection members 310 can be simultaneously actuated. In this state, one end of the wire 320 is brought into close contact with the other side of the lever body 222 of the actuating lever 220 and is then fastened by the fastening pins 225.

[48] In order to mount the toilet seat 13, to which the present invention is installed through the above-described process, on the upper surface of the main body 11 of the toilet bowl 10, when the toilet seat 13 is located so as to overlap the edges of the main body 11 from above it and is then lowered to be seated on the upper surface of the main body 11, the suction elements 110 of the suction parts 100 come into close contact with the upper surface of the main body 11, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[49] When a user sits on the toilet seat 13 after the suction elements 110 of the suction parts 100 are in close contact with the upper surface of the main body 11, the air in the suction elements 110 of the suction parts 100 is discharged outside the suction elements 110 by the weight of the user, and thus the suction elements 110 are fastened to the upper surface of the main body 11 in a vacuum state, as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the user, sitting on the toilet seat 13 fastened to the upper surface of the main body 11, can easily relieve himself.

[50] In this case, the suction parts 100 are fixedly inserted into the fastening holes 420 of the symmetric fastening parts 400, and the suction elements 110 of the suction parts 100 are fastened to the upper surface of the main body 11 using suction. Accordingly, even when the user who sits on the toilet seat 13 moves laterally with respect to the toilet seat 13, the toilet seat 13 can be prevented from moving laterally.

[51] Furthermore, when it is necessary to release the toilet seat 13 fastened to the upper surface of the main body 11 of the toilet bowl 10 using suction, the pressing lever 210 of the actuating unit 200 is pressed as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. When the restoration spring 230, which is in close contact with the support 240, is compressed by the pressing lever 210, a restoring force is generated and, at the same time, the pressing lever 210 is moved into the toilet seat 13. Subsequently, the lever body 222 of the actuating lever 220, which is fastened to the pressing lever 210 by the fastening

element 224, is rotated in the clockwise direction around the shaft 220a inserted into the coupling hole 221.

[52] In this case, when the fastening element 224 is moved into the actuation space 223 formed to pass through one side of the lever body 222, the other side of the lever body 222 moves in the direction opposite the pressing lever 210. Subsequently, the wire 320 of the suction part releasing unit 300, which is fastened to the lever body 222 by the fastening pins 225, moves to the outside of the toilet seat 13, and thus the connection members 310 connected to the wire 320 are pulled.

[53] The movement of the wire 312 causes the connection members 310 to move along the circumferential surfaces of the ascent and descent guide bars 330. In this case, the connection members 310 are in line with the ascent and descent guide bars 330 in the vertical direction, so that the connection members 310 move upwards. The upward movement of the connection members 310 causes upward movement of the suction parts 100, having the respective connection holes 130 into each of which one end of each connection member 310 is fixedly inserted, and thus the ends of the suction elements 110 move upwards, so that the air flows into the suction elements 110, and thus the suction force of the suction elements 110 are removed. Accordingly, the suction parts 100 can be easily released from the upper surface of the main body 11.

[54] Furthermore, when the suction parts 100 are released from the upper surface of the main body 11 through the above-described process, the pressure that is applied to the pressing lever 210 of the actuating unit 200 is removed. In this case, the pressing lever 210 is restored to its original position by the generated restoring force of the restoration spring 230, and thus the actuating lever 220 fastened to the pressing lever 210 by the fastening element 224 is rotated in the shaft 220a of the lever body 222, which is inserted into the coupling hole 221.

[55] In this case, when the fastening element 224 moves to the outside of the actuation space 223 formed to pass through one side of the lever body 222, the wire 320 of the suction part releasing unit 300, which is fastened to the other side of the lever body 222, moving in the direction opposite the pressing lever 210, using the fastening pins 225, is moved into the toilet seat 13 along the connection members 310 that are fixedly inserted into the connection holes 130 of the suction parts 100 lowered by gravity, and thus a protrusion (not shown) protruding from the leading end of the pressing lever 210 is brought into close contact with the inner circumference of the movement guide hole 13a of the toilet seat 13. Accordingly, the restoring operation of the pressing lever 210 is stopped, and a subsequent operation is waited for.

[56] Accordingly, the toilet seat 13 can be easily mounted on and removed from the upper surface of the main body 11 of the toilet bowl 10. Furthermore, when the toilet seat 13 is easily removed from the main body 11, the main body 11 of the toilet bowl 10 and

the toilet seat 13 can be easily cleaned, and thus maintenance of the product can be facilitated.