Field of the Invention This invention relates to the mounting of toilet seats on toilet pans and provides an assembly for mounting a toilet seat on a toilet pan and/or components incorporated in such an assembly.

Background to the Invention

Toilet pans come in a variety of shapes and sizes and toilet seats must therefore be provided in various forms to accommodate this. Typically a toilet seat is secured to a pan by a pair of connection shafts or bolts that pass down through a pair of preformed holes in the rear edge of the toilet pan. The spacing between these holes varies. According to a European standard the spacing between the holes should lie in the range 145 - 165 mm but there is no obligation to comply with this standard.

It follows that the fixing points between the connection shafts and the seat, which typically form part of or incorporate a hinge, must include some form of adjustment so that one configuration of seat can be fitted to a variety of pans or, conversely, one configuration of pan can be fitted with a variety of seats. Of course if a seat has fixing points at exactly the same spacing as the mounting holes on the pan, and those fixing points also fix the seat at the correct longitudinal alignment relative to the pan, then no adjustment is necessary. But this is rarely the case, particularly when a new toilet seat is being retro-fitted to an existing pan installation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a toilet seat mounting assembly which will address the general problem outlined above by providing an increased range of positional adjustment between a toilet seat and a toilet pan; or which will at least provide a novel and useful choice. Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a toilet seat mounting assembly including one or more first hinge fittings engageable with a toilet seat and at least two second hinge fittings, each second hinge fitting being fixable to a toilet pan by a connecting shaft, said first and second hinge fittings, in use, engaging together to provide a hinged connection between said toilet seat and said toilet pan, wherein each of said first hinge fittings has at least two alternative points for engagement with each of said second hinge fittings; and each of said second hinge fittings is configured for movement with respect to said connection shaft in directions that have perpendicular components.

Preferably said one or more first hinge fittings are incorporated in a hinge bar configured to extend laterally across an underside of said toilet seat when said toilet seat is mounted on said toilet pan.

Preferably said hinge bar is straight, has two ends and a mid-point, and wherein said first hinge fittings are symmetrical about said mid-point. Preferably said hinge bar includes two sets of first hinge fittings.

Preferably said first hinge fittings comprise sockets to receive said second hinge fittings. Preferably said hinge bar further includes locking means to retain said second hinge fittings within said sockets.

Preferably said locking means is configured with alternative locking edges such that a single locking member can engage a second hinge fitting when said second hinge fitting is engaged with either of the alternative engagement points of a said first hinge fitting. Preferably each said second hinge fitting includes a mounting pillar for engagement with a first said hinge fitting and a slot for sliding engagement over a said connection shaft. Preferably said slot is a vee-shaped slot.

In a second aspect the invention provides a hinge bar forming part of the mounting assembly as set forth above, said hinge bar including a plurality of sets of first hinge fittings.

Preferably said hinge bar includes two sets of first hinge fittings arranged symmetrically about a mid-point of said bar.

Preferably said first hinge fittings comprise sockets to receive said second hinge fittings.

Preferably said hinge bar further includes locking means to lock to engagement between said first hinge fittings and said second hinge fittings. Preferably said locking means includes a locking member having alternative locking edges such that a single locking member can engage a second hinge fitting when said second hinge fitting is engaged with either of the alternative engagement points of a said first hinge fitting. Many variations in the way the invention may be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art, upon reading the following description. The description should not be regarded as limiting but rather as an illustration, only, of one manner of performing the invention. Where appropriate any element or component should be taken as including any or all equivalents thereof whether or not specifically mentioned. Brief Description of the Drawings

One working embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 : shows an end elevational view of a toilet seat mounting

assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2: shows an underside isometric view of a first part of the assembly shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3: shows an isometric view of a second part of the assembly

shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4: shows a plan view of that which is shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5: shows a similar view to that shown in Figure 4, but engaged with a mounting shaft or bolt; Figure 6: shows a similar view to Figure 5, but with the component in

alternative positions with respect to the mounting shaft or bolt;

Figure 7: shows an isometric cross-section of a connection between a first and a second hinge fitting in one position; and

Figure 8: shows a similar view to Figure 7 but in a second position.

Detailed Description of Working Embodiment Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the invention provides an assembly 10 (shown in solid outline) for mounting a toilet seat 11 (dotted outline) to a toilet pan 12 (dotted outline). In keeping with convention the assembly includes one or more first hinge fittings 14 engageable with the seat 11 and at least two second hinge fittings 15 which fixable to the pan 12 by means of connecting shafts or bolts 16, the shafts or bolts 16 passing down through holes formed in the rear edge of the pan 12 and then being secured in place by fasteners such as washers 17 and nuts 18 although other fixings, including top fixings, could be used if necessary, convenient or desired. The first hinge fittings are, in the illustrated embodiment, incorporated in a single hinge bar but could be separate components. The second hinge fittings, in this instance, comprise separate hinge bases that engage with the hinge bar to provide a hinged connection between the seat 11 and the pan 12. A distinctive feature of the invention is that the hinge bar 14 includes a plurality of connection points for each of the hinge bases 15, this being shown in Figure 2 where two sets of connections 20a, 20b and 21a 21b are shown on the underside of the hinge bar. It is preferred that each set be symmetrical about the mid point of the bar, indicated at 22 and more than two sets of connections could be provided if desired. The hinge bar as described is combined with hinge bases, each of which is configured for movement with respect to its connection shaft or bolt 16 in directions that have perpendicular components. That is to say each hinge base 15 can be displaced with respect to its respective shaft or bolt 16 in a direction which is longitudinal of the toilet pan and a direction that is lateral of the toilet pan. In the illustrated

example this is effected, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, by providing a vee-shaped slot 24 in the hinge base 15 though it will be appreciated that many alternative slot configurations could be provided to achieve the same end.

Each hinge base 15 preferably includes an upstanding pillar 25 that engages into one of the connections 20 or 21 of the hinge bar, the connections 20 and 21 comprising sockets which are preferably provided with locking means 26, illustrated in Figures 7 & 8, to retain the connection with the pillars 25. Given that each pillar 25 may be alternatively connected either with a connection 20a, 20b or 21a, 21b the locking means 26 preferably includes a locking member 27 that slides along the axis of the hinge bar and includes a first locking edge 28 and a second locking edge 29, the edges 28 and 29 engaging in groove 30 provided about the upper edge of pillar 25 depending on whether the pillar is engaged in a socket 20a, 20b as shown in Figure 7 or engaged in a socket 21a, 21b as shown in Figure 8. Apart from the configuration of the locking member 27, the operation of the locking means is conventional and may be actuated by manually pressing button 30.

Reverting to Figures 4 to 6, it can be seen that each slot 24 comprises a branch 31a and a branch 31b meeting at apex 32. In the event that a connection set between the hinge bases 15 and the hinge bar 14 corresponds exactly to the spacing between the holes formed in the pan, then it will be appreciated that the longitudinal adjustment between the seat and pan will be compromised. Then invention overcomes the compromise by providing altemative sets of mounting points and thus a greater range of adjustment.

It will thus be appreciated that the invention, at least in the case of the embodiment described, allows a wide range of positions to be achieved of a toilet seat with respect to a toilet pan from which an optimum relative position can be selected.