TOILET SEAT APPARATUS

Background to the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for raising and lowering a toilet seat.

[0002] A number of devices for automatically lowering toilet seats and/ or lids have been described in the prior art for example WO 95/31922. It appears that few, if any, such devices have been manufactured and the present invention seeks to provide a more practical device.

[0003] The invention significantly improves the device of WO 95/31922, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. This known apparatus comprises a water supply device for location in a cistern of a flush toilet, and a pneumatic seat moving mechanism for raising and lowering a toilet seat, the water supply device being adapted to supply air to the seat moving mechanism to operate the latter. The water supply apparatus comprises valve means for admitting pressurised water to a control chamber. Air is supplied from the control chamber via a control valve, in the control chamber, and operates the mechanism to raise the toilet seat. A pressure-relieving outlet of the control chamber opens by means of a float valve when the toilet is flushed and releases air from the chamber as the mechanism subsequently operates to lower the seat.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The invention provides apparatus for raising and/ or lowering a seat and/ or a lid of a toilet. The expression "cover means" is used below to denote a seat, a lid, or a combination of a seat and lid, optionally with a releasable fastening between the seat and lid.

[0005] From a first aspect, the invention provides apparatus for lowering a cover means of a flush toilet, comprising a toilet bowl fitted with a cover means

moveable between a lowered position and a raised position and a flush tank provided with manually operable actuating means for flushing the toilet, the apparatus further comprising a water supply device and a hydraulic mechanism for raising and lowering the cover means, the water supply device having an inlet for pressurised water, a supply outlet for supplying water to the mechanism and an relief outlet for releasing water from the mechanism, said supply outlet being located between the inlet and the relief outlet, and a control member arranged to act directly to open the inlet and close the relief outlet in a first, water supplying position and to close the inlet and open the relief outlet in a second, water releasing position.

[0006] The water supply device may comprise a substantially vertical tube with the inlet arranged below the supply outlet. The control member may comprise a rod extending into the water supply device, which rod may be formed with two protuberances acting as valve members for the inlet and relief outlet respectively. The water supply device may have surfaces each formed with one or more apertures acting as valve seats for the inlet and relief outlet respectively. A part of the water supply device including the supply outlet can be formed with a reduced cross section as compared to parts including the inlet and relief outlets.

[0007] In one embodiment, the control member is actuated by means of a manual actuator having a latching arrangement for holding the control member in the first position after manual actuation. A flush actuation means in the form of a float actuator may be arranged to move the control member to the second position on flushing of the toilet.

[0008] The hydraulic mechanism may comprise a guide member arranged in a cylinder, the cylinder and guide member adapted for relative movement to raise the cover means when water flows into the cylinder. In one embodiment, the cylinder is arranged to slide along the guide member and the mechanism may include a linkage for connecting the cylinder to the toilet seat. An expansible

enclosure, such as a bellows, may be fixed to the guide member and the cylinder so as to expand and contract during relative movement of the guide member and the cylinder. The enclosure may surround an end of the cylinder, and may communicate with the supply outlet of the water supply means and with the cylinder so as to supply water to the cylinder.

[0009] In order to assist in movement of the cover means, at an end of their range of motion, a spring may be provided, the spring storing energy at that end of the range. In one embodiment the spring is arranged about an axle of the mechanism.

[001O]An embodiment of the invention includes first and second hydraulic mechanisms for a toilet seat and a toilet lid respectively. A "gentleman's" manual actuator is provided for operation of the first and second mechanisms together and a "sitter's" manual actuator is provided for operation of the second mechanism.

[0011 ] Another aspect of the invention provides a hydraulic mechanism for moving a toilet cover means, the mechanism comprising a cylinder extensible along a guide means to impart a force for moving the cover means, when the cylinder is supplied with liquid, and an expansible enclosure secured to the guide means and the cylinder, the enclosure communicating with a supply of liquid and with the cylinder. The hydraulic mechanism may include any or all of the optional features set out above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a side view of a hydraulic mechanism according to the invention, connected to a toilet bowl;

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of part of the mechanism of Figure 1;

[0015]Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, in a seat raising mode;

[0016] Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, in a seat lowering mode;

[0017] Figure 5 is a partly sectional view of a water supply device in an initial position;

[0018]Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but in a seat raising mode; and

[0019] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, but in a seat lowering mode.

Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments

[0020]Figure 1 shows a toilet having a seat 2 hinged to the toilet bowl and a lid 4 hinged to the seat. A magnet 6 and a metallic insert 7 keep the seat 2 and the lid 4 together except during separate raising of the lid 4.

[0021] A hydraulic mechanism 8, fixed to a rear part of the toilet via a bracket 9, is arranged to raise and lower the seat 2 and lid 4. The mechanism comprises a frame 10 to which a bellows 12 is adjustably fixed at a rear bellows plate 14 by means of a screw connection 16. A water supply pipe 18 communicates with the bellows 12 through a hole in the rear bellows plate 14.

[0022] A cylinder 20 is fixed to a front bellows plate 22 and, at a front end of the cylinder, to a substantially triangular link plate 24 at a pivot 26. The plate 24 is journalled to the frame 10 at an axle 28 bearing a spring 30 having a peg 31. The plate is also pivoted to a bar 32 having an upper end pivoted to the toilet seat 2.

[0023] Figure 2 shows the bellows 12 and cylinder 20 in the same "seat down" position as Figure 1. Part of the cylinder 20 extends through the front plate 22 and within the bellows, and has a port 33 for admitting water. A guide bar 34

extends forwards from the connection 16 through the bellows and carries the cylinder 20 slidably on front and rear plastics bearings 36, 38. The rear bearing 38 is housed in a sleeve 40 at the rear end of the cylinder. The front bearing 36 is adjustably fixed to the front end of the guide bar 34 and has a water-admitting cross-sectional shape, e.g. polygonal or formed with apertures or recesses.

[0024] In Figure 3 the arrows denote water flow and show the admission of water to the bellows from the supply pipe 18. The inner folds of the bellows 12 may be reinforced so that their diameter remains constant when subjected to pressure. The initial water flow swells the loose folds of the bellows so that the water is in full flow before its inertia is transmitted to the cylinder 20. The combination of the reinforced inner bellows folds and the slight stretching of the bellows material, e.g. rubber, causes the water to form a stable body. The water enters the cylinder 20 via the port 33 and flows past the front bearing 36, forcing the cylinder forwards. This raises the toilet seat 2 and Hd 4 via the link plate 24 and the bar 32. As the seat and cover are lifting their gravitational force on the bar 32 lessens. The geometry of the linkage is therefore set to provide high mechanical advantage for the first part of the lifting operation and low mechanical advantage for the final part.

[0025] When the seat 2 and lid 4 have completed about two-thirds of their lift, the peg 31 of the spring 30 contacts a fixed point so that the final part of the lift is against the spring. When fully lifted, the seat 2 and lid 4 have passed a vertical position.

[0026] Figure 4 shows the water leaving the cylinder 20 when allowed to flow back through the supply pipe 18. The spring 30 starts the movement of the seat 2, which initially carries the lid 4 due to the magnetic connection 6, 7. Subsequently, the seat and lid descend under gravity to the closed position of Figure 1, pushing the cylinder 20 back along the guide bar 34.

[0027] Figure 5 shows the water supply device, which is arranged inside a flush tank of the toilet, in the initial "seat down" position. The device comprises a vertical tube 50 having an inlet 52, a supply outlet 54, connected to the supply pipe 18, and a relief outlet 56. Inlet 52 may be open to receive water contained in the flush tank or may have a separately piped supply of water. A control rod 58 extends slidably within the tube 50. A central part 60 of the tube 50 is of reduced cross-section and is formed with an upper valve seat 62 and a lower valve seat 64, at opposite ends. The rod 58 carries an upper valve member 66 and a lower valve member 68, adapted to close off the relief outlet 56 and the inlet 52 respectively. An operating lever 70 is attached to a fixed pivot 72 and bears against an upper end of the rod 58 that is adjustable in length. A latch member 74 engages with a recess 76 on the lever 70. The latch member pivots around a pin 78 and, at its end remote from the lever 70, is journalled on the upper end of a float rod 80 attached to a float/ weight 82. As shown in Figure 5, the rod 58 is in a raised position in which lower valve member 68 closes the inlet 52.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, to raise the toilet seat, a gentleman moves the lever 70 downwards so that the rod 58 also moves down, opens the inlet 52 and simultaneously closes the relief outlet 56. When the water is at its upper level 84, the float 82 and the latch member 74 keep the lever in the position shown in Figure 6 so that the relief outlet remains closed.

[0029] Pressurised water then flows in through the inlet 52 and the supply outlet 54 to operate the hydraulic mechanism via the supply pipe 18, raising the toilet seat.

[0030] The flush tank has a conventional flushing apparatus including a handle or pushbutton. When the toilet is flushed, the water level falls in the tank, leaving the float 82 unsupported. The latch member 74 then disengages from the lever 70, which allows the rod 58 to rise, opening the relief outlet 56 and closing the inlet 52, as shown in Figure 7. The seat 2 and lid 4 are then lowered as

described above with respect to Figure 4. The force of the spring 30, followed by the weight of the seat 2 and lid 4, expels water from the hydraulic mechanism and up the supply pipe 18, through the supply outlet 54 and out of the relief outlet 56 into the flush tank. Thus the water used is recycled.

[0031] In the "seat down" position, the bellows 22 is connected to atmosphere, as the relief outlet 56 is open. This means that the seat 2 and the lid 4 can be raised and lowered manually without affecting the apparatus of the invention.

[0032] Whilst Figure 1 shows the lift bar connected to the seat I ₁ it may alternatively be connected to the lid 4, so that the mechanism operates to raise the lid directly and the seat 2 by means of its magnetic connection 6, 7 to the lid 4. The seat could then be lowered manually, following which the lid 4 is lowered by the apparatus when the toilet is flushed.

[0033] In a further development of the invention, two hydraulic mechanisms of the type described above are provided, for example one on each side of the toilet. Each mechanism may have its own water supply device and its own lever or other manual actuator. One of the actuators is for use by gentlemen and is connected via its water supply device to a hydraulic mechanism of the type shown in Figure 1, to raise both the seat and lid. The other actuator is connected via its water supply device to a hydraulic mechanism that raises the lid only. The two water supply devices or water supply pipes may be interconnected to ensure that water may flow into both hydraulic mechanisms when the "gentleman's" actuator is operated.