BACKGROUND There are in existence a number of foot actuated toilet seat lifting mechanisms but to date it would appear that none of these have been successfully commercialised. Part of the difficulty with known toilet seat lifting mechanisms is that they are complicated and obtrusive, often interfering with the aesthetic appeal of a bathroom and more particularly the toilet area.

One such product is disclosed in Canadian patent number 950213 by Stephen F. Blair which teaches a toilet seat lifting apparatus comprising pivotally connected flat members with a first member having two spaced holes for alignment with seat attachment holes in a rear portion of a toilet bowl and a second member extending from the first member in a forward direct to the front of the toilet bowl and having a projection at its forward end for engagement with a toilet seat. A second member includes a lever extending rearwardly past the first member with the latter connected to a foot operated actuating member which is mounted adjacent aside of the toilet bowl.

This assembly further includes a resilient restraint connected to a lower surface of the second member and above a top surface of the toilet bowl for restraining downward movement of the second member with respect of the top surface of a toilet bowl. One of the disadvantages of this arrangement is that it is obtrusive and does not include a bias towards either a seated or lifted position although it does move between a rest position in which the seat is down and actuated position in which the seat is lifted. This arrangement, because of the nature of the lever members used, does not fit conveniently (from an aesthetic point of view) against the toilet pan. It is aesthetically undesirable to employ a toilet seat lifting apparatus with complicated mechanics necessitating use of the obtrusive operative members.

Another toilet seat lifting mechanism is described in Taiwanese patent 049296 by Yeuh- Tse Chiang. This patent discloses an automatic toilet seat lifting mechanism which includes torsional springs to retain the toilet seat in the vertical position. Flushing the toilet causes actuation of a lifting mechanism enabling the toilet seat to be lifted to the vertical position by means of torsional springs. This arrangement is also the subject us US patent 5,291,618 but suffers from the disadvantage in that it is not capable of simple retrofitment to a wide number of toilet designs.

Efforts have been made in the past to provide toilet seat lifting mechanisms which avoid the need to touch the seat so as to eliminate or reduce the risk of diseases which may be transmitted from toilet seats such as hepatitis and other viral or bacterial infections. One such device directed to overcoming this problem is disclosed in US patent 4,803,741 by Ellis & Taylor which employs a lifting device that can be elevated merely by stepping on a lever connected to the seat and holding the lever in the depressed position during the time of using the toilet facility. When the foot is released from the lever the seat returns to the horizontal position. When the device is in use, both feet can be comfortably placed on the floor and it is not necessary to have one foot elevated above the other. When the user releases the foot pedal the seat lowers to the horizontal position with an air cylinder provided to cushion the downward movement of the seat.

Whilst this device satisfies the overall objective it is cumbersome, mechanically complicated and obtrusive and also suffers from the disadvantage that the user of the toilet must be engaged in another activity i. e. applying pressure to the pedal whilst the facility is being used.

There have been other complicated devices for lifting toilet seats such as that disclosed in US patent 4,426,743 by Allan B Seabrooke. This patent discloses a toilet seat lifting device which applies a constant biasing force by means of a helical spring to the seat in a direction tending to raise the seat. In this arrangement the weight of the seat is sufficient to overcome the constant bias force so that the seat normally assumes a horizontal or down position. The seat is held in a raised position solely by a biasing

force but requires forcible manual lowering of the seat such as is often found in cinema theatre seats. The device disclosed in patent 4,426,743 is quite complicated mechanically and cannot be readily retrofitted in a simple fashion by a user.

The applicant is aware of additional prior art documents (listed below) relating to mechanisms for lifting a toilet seat. Patent No. Title US 5,103,506 Toilet seat lifter US 5,488,743 Toilet seat pedal lifter US 4,975,988 Foot-operated toilet seat lifting and lowering mechanism US 4,592,097 Seat lifter US 4,030,146 Toilet seat lifting apparatus including a resilient bowed member for preventing the seat from slamming US 4,150,446 Toilet seat lifter US 4,426,743 Toilet seat lifting device US 4,534,073 Toilet seat lifter US 4,649,576 Foot-actuated toilet seat lifting device US 4,736,470 Lifting assembly for lid and seat structures of a toilet US 5,056,165 Commode flush and seat lift apparatus US 5,075,906 Seat lift US 5,327,589 Toilet seat raising mechanism US 5,444,877 Foot actuated double acting lever for lifting toilet seat US 5,448,782 Foot actuated toilet seat lifting device US 5,487,192 Apparatus for the raising and self-lowering of a toilet seat

US patent 5,103,506 discloses a foot actuated lifting mechanism which is highly complex and cannot be conveniently retrofitted.

US patent 4,975,988 disclose a toilet seat lifting assembly with the object of the invention to provide an assembly without any hands-on interaction with the assembly.

This objective is achieved by having a cable operated foot lever used in combination with a crank portion on the hinge of the toilet seat. This arrangement does not lend itself readily to retrofitting with special arrangements made in the toilet pan to receive the linkage between the gearing assembly and the cable attaching to the foot operated pedal. Thus, existing pans would have to be modified to accommodate this device.

US patent 5,487,192 discloses an attachment to a support bolt of a toilet seat with associated supporting lever and an L shaped bracket which fits to the floor mount portion of a pan. This assembly would either require modification for fitment to existing toilet seats or alternatively, a toilet pan would need to be modified or specially constructed to receive the device. Accordingly, this device does not lend itself to convenient retrofitting.

US patent 5,448,782 discloses a foot actuated toilet seat lifting device having an adjustable width toilet seat attachment bracket and a telescopic lifting arm which is actuated by a foot operated fluid pressure cylinder. In order to fit this device, the toilet seat must be drilled in order to receive the attachment bracket. Thus, this device is not suitable for convenient retrofitting without having to make any adjustments to the existing seat.

It can be seen from the above prior art that there have been numerous attempts to make a commercially viable toilet seat lifter. However, no matter where one travels in the world, toilet lifting devices of the type described in the above cited references are not to the applicant's knowledge found to be in common use.

The prior art devices are typically complicated mechanically, very often using hydraulics and/or complicated gearing along with cumbersome mechanics in order to effect elevation and lowering of a toilet seat. Furthermore, in many cases additional work needs to be preformed to either the toilet seat or to the pan to modify either of those to receive the toilet seat lifting apparatus. It is inconvenient to be obliged to drill extra holes in either the toilet pan or seat in order to receive a toilet seat lifting assembly.

Accordingly, the inventor recognised a need to provide an assembly for manipulating a toilet seat which is unobtrusive, can be readily retrofitted to a wide variety of toilets and toilet seat designs, can be fitted without the need to make any adjustments to the existing toilet structure such as drilling and the like, satisfies aesthetic considerations, is

mechanically simple such that a non mechanically minded person can retrofit the device to an existing toilet and is commercially acceptable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In its broadest form the present invention comprises: an assembly for manipulating a toilet seat between a lifted and lowered disposition; said assembly including; a mechanism which engages and is at least partially retained by at least one anchorage bolt and which includes a support plate having an opening to receive said anchorage bolt/s to retain said support plate between the underside of the seat and a toilet pan and retaining means at one end of said support plate to receive and retain a first linkage member which directly or indirectly engages said toilet seat; an actuating member which receives at one end a first end of a second linkage member having means to receive via a second free end said first linkage member; wherein when said actuating member is actuated, displacement of said second linkage member causes the first linkage member to rotate within said retaining means whereupon said engagement of said first linkage member with the toilet seat moves the seat to the raised or lowered position depending upon the position of said actuating member.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toilet lifting assembly is detachably fitted to the toilet seat with existing anchorage bolts so that there is no need for additional work such as drilling to be formed to either the toilet seat pan or the toilet seat in order to effect installation. Preferably, the support plate used as the anchorage for the assembly to the toilet seat and which also receives the first linkage member is generally L shaped with one leg of the L shape including an opening to receive the toilet seat anchorage bolt with the other leg including said retaining means and whose longitudinal axis is normal to the longitudinal axis of the first leg and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pan.

In another form the present invention comprises: a method of attachment of a manipulating assembly for raising and lowering a toilet seat attached to a toilet pan comprising the steps of; a) removing at least one anchorage bolt which fastens a toilet seat to a toilet pan, b) inserting between an underside of the toilet seat and an upper surface of said pan a support plate such that an opening in the support plate aligns with an opening in the pan, c) re-inserting said anchorage bolt and securing it so that a foot actuated assembly is secured to the toilet enabling said assembly to raise and lower said seat.

In an alternative form of the method aspect the present invention comprises: a manipulating assembly for raising and lowering a toilet seat and a method for fitting said assembly to a seat; said assembly including; a foot actuated assembly for raising and lowering a toilet seat; a mechanism which engages and is at least partially retained by a seat anchorage bolt and which includes a support plate having an opening to receive said anchorage bolt to retain said plate between the underside of the seat and a toilet pan and retaining means at one end which receives a first linkage member; a foot actuated pedal which receives and retains a first end of a second linkage member having means to receive via a second free end said first linkage member which is retained by said retaining means; biasing means associated with said assembly which biases the toilet seat towards either a raised or lowered position; said method comprising the steps of; a) removing at least one anchorage bolt which fastens a toilet seat to a toilet pan, b) inserting between an underside of the toilet seat and an upper surface of said pan said support plate of said assembly such that an opening in the support plate aligns with an opening in the pan, and c) re-inserting said anchorage bolt and securing it so that a foot actuated assembly is secured to the toilet enabling said assembly to raise and lower said seat;

wherein when said pedal is actuated, said second linkage member causes the first linkage member to rotate whereupon a free end of said second linkage member engages the toilet seat so as to move it to the raised or lowered position depending upon the bias direction selected for said bias means.

Among the advantages of the present invention are that the assembly is cheap to manufacture requires potentially only one fitting point and does not require directional conversion of forces resulting in reduced mechanical effort in comparison to the prior art arrangements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in more detail according to a preferred but non limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustrations wherein: Figure 1: shows an exploded view of a manipulating assembly for raising and lowering a toilet according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: shows the actuating mechanism of figure 1 in more detail; Figure 3: shows an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the retaining means on the actuating mechanism; Figure 4: shows an unexploded view of the retaining means of figure 3; Figure 5: shows a typical self-adhesive bush; Figure 6: shows the retaining means of figure 4 including a biasing spring; Figure 7: shows side elevation view of embodiment fitted to the toilet seat in lowered disposition; Figure 8: shows assembly of figure 7 with the seat in the lifted disposition Figure 9: shows an alternative arrangement for the manipulating assembly in lowered position this time with two foot actuated pedals (one for lifting and one for lowering toilet seat); Figure 10: shows the arrangement of figure 9 with the toilet in the lifted position; Figure 11: shows a side view of alternative embodiment of the manipulating mechanism for lowering toilet seat.;

Figure 12: shows the assembly of figure 11 with the seat in the lowered disposition; Figure 13: shows an alternative manipulating mechanism which utilises cable as a linkage between the foot actuated pedal and the linkage rod which engages the toilet seat; and Figure 14: shows the assembly of figure 13 with the seat in the lifted disposition BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to figure 1 there is shown according to a preferred embodiment an exploded view of a manipulating assembly for raising and lowering a toilet seat and which is capable of retrofitting to an existing toilet. Figure 1 shows toilet seat 1 comprising a lid 2 and seat base 3.

Seat 1 includes bushes 4 which engage surface 5 of pan 6 once in engagement with the pan. The manipulating assembly comprises an anchor plate 7 which is preferably L shaped and includes a first leg 8 which terminates in a free end and a second leg 9 which engages clamping assembly 10. Anchor plate 7 includes an opening 11 which receive anchor bolts 12. Anchor plate 7 engages surface 5 of pan 6 such that opening 11 is placed in alignment with aperture 13 which enables bolt 12 to penetrate opening 14 through opening 11 thence through aperture 13 of pan 6. Once bolt 12 is secured in position fastening nut 15 engages the bolt thereby securing both the toilet seat and the seat manipulating assembly to pan 6. As insertion of plate 7 causes a slight out of alignment of seat 1, spacing washer 16 is inserted between seat base 3 and pan 6 at the location where anchor bolt 17 engages opening 18 in seat base 3 and also opening 19 in pan 6. Spacing washer 16 is sandwiched between seat base 3 and surface 5 of pan 6 thereby restoring the seat to proper horizontal alignment. Bolt 17 is secured in position by means of securing nut 20.

The assembly further comprises first linkage rod 21 which comprises first and second free ends 22 and 23 respectively and intermediate therebetween a pivot portion 24 which is engaged by clamping assembly 10. Clamping assembly 10 includes clamp 25 which engages free end 9 of plate 7.

The manipulating assembly further comprises a second linkage rod 26 having free ends 27 and 28 with free end 27 terminating in a hook portion enabling it to engage a corresponding hook portion formed on free end 23 of first linkage rod 21. Free end 28 of second linkage rod 26 engages foot actuated pedal 29 by penetration through opening 30. Free end 28 receives a fastening nut 31 in order to secure second linkage rod to foot actuated pedal 29.

Referring to figure 2 there is shown an enlarged view of the plate and retaining means described in figure 1. According to one embodiment the retaining means comprises, clamp 25 which is a generally U-shaped member having a throat 32 which receives free end 33 of plate 7. Clamp 25 further includes holes 34 and 35 which receive bolts 36 and 37 respectively, once clamp 25 engages free end 33 and holes 34 and 35 are in alignment with corresponding holes 38 and 39 in free end 33 of plate 7. Nuts 40 and 41 engage bolts 36 and 37 respectively to secure first linkage rod 21 in a position such that intermediate pivot portion 24 rotates inside throat 32 once engaged with second linkage rod 26 (see figure 1). Once the assembly is secured in position, the first linkage rod 21 rotates upon actuation in the general direction of arrow 42.

Anchorage plate 7 is preferably L shaped such that opening 11 lies along first leg 8 with the second leg 9 being normal thereto. Opening 11 may be sized so as to allow lateral adjustment allowing the installer some latitude as to the exact position of the assembly.

This will be particularly useful when lateral adjustment needs to be made so that linkage rods 21 and 26 will clear toilet pan 6. Free end 23 of linkage rod 21 terminates in a generally hook shaped arrangement which receives a corresponding hook arrangement at free end 27 of linkage rod 26.

Referring to figure 3 there is shown an alternative embodiment of a retaining means.

Free end 33 of plate 7 is adapted with a bifurcated portion 43 which engages end 33 to be formed such that it includes upturned portions 44 and 45 and intermediate therebetween a downturned portion 46. In view of bifurcation 43, downturned portion

46 is able to move relative to upturned portions 44 and 45 enabling intermediate pivot portion 24 to be pressed into engagement with free end 33 such that it assumes the relationship shown in figure 4. In this configuration the first linkage rod 21 is free to rotate inside the opening formed by downturned portion 46 and portions 44 and 45, respectively as shown in figure 4.

Figure 5 shows a typical bush 4 which is affixed to the underside of toilet seat 1. The bushes, which may be self adhesive or screw fixed, receive linkage rod 21 attached to the toilet seat. Linkage rod 21 can move inside an opening in the bush to compensate for distance of travel of the toilet seat.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of figure 4 this time with the additional of biasing spring 47 which engages free end 22 of linkage rod 21 and as shown urges the linkage rod 21 in a direction towards lowering of seat 1.

Biasing spring 47 may be set so as to bias the seat to either the lowered or elevated position. According to the embodiment shown, biasing spring is set so as to bias a seat to the lowered position.

Figure 7 shows a manipulating mechanism 54 (described in figure 2) attached to a toilet 50 (side view) When a user presses on foot actuated pedal 29 this actuates linkage rod 26 which by virtue of its linkage with rod 21 causes rod 21 to pivot about an axis through intermediate pivot portion 24 causing free end 22 to engage the underside of seat 1 thereby rotating it from a lowered position to an elevated position. Where a biasing spring is used (like in figure 6) the spring bias will urge to seat more positively to the lowered position.

In an alternative embodiment the biasing spring can be set so that the seat is biased towards an elevated position.

Figure 8 shows the arrangement of figure 7 this time so that seat 1 is in the elevated configuration.

It can be seen from the above description that the assembly can be conveniently fitted to a new toilet or alternatively, retrofitted to existing toilets without the need to perform any direct actions such as drilling on either the toilet seat or pan. Thus, this foot operated arrangement simplifies the known arrangements and will enable a person with low mechanical ability to retrofit the assembly to known toilet seats. It is an advantage of the present invention that it can be fitted to a wide variety of known toilet designs, does not use complicated mechanics hydraulics or electronics and is aesthetically unobtrusive.

Referring to figure 9 there is shown a further embodiment of the invention wherein there are two pedals 57 and 58 able to actuate the toilet seat in a manner previously described.

Foot pedal 58 is for lifting the seat (male pedal) described in figures 7 and 8. Once the seat is lifted the pedal 57 is for lowering the toilet seat (female pedal).

The arrangement of figure 9 allows operator choice in determining which foot pedal will actuate the elevation or lowering of the seat. Figure 10 shows the arrangement of figure 9 this time with the seat in the elevated position. In figure 9 there are shown linkages 59 and 60 interengaged and adapted to pivot about pivot point 63. On the opposite side of toilet pan 64 are linkage rod 61 and 62 which interengage via pivot points 65.

According to an alternative embodiment, linkage rods 60 and 62 may engage bushes 4 previously described. In this arrangement an opening in bushes 4 will allow penetration of a free end of rods 60 and 62 as shown in figure 10.

Figure 11 shows a side elevational view of an arrangement for lowering a toilet seat.

The mechanics is same as for the embodiment for lifting the toilet seat (figure 7 and 8) except for the shape of the linkage rod 60 which is adapted in such way to lower the

toilet seat when foot pedal 57 is engaged. The shape of the linkage rod shown in figure 11 provides for control of slamming.

When foot pedal 57 is pressed it engage linkage rod 59 which via bushes 4 rotate the toilet seat downwards. As soon as the toilet seat rotates the gravity force would normally accelerate movement causing slamming. But when foot pedal 57 is pushed it has a lowest position which holds the toilet seat in the position before it slams on the toilet pan. So to lower the toilet seat completely it is required (after initial push) to lift the foot pedal. This last action completely controls the speed of rotation of the toilet seat while moving in lowered position providing the slamming control.

Figure 12 shows the arrangement of figure 11 from a side elevation with the toilet seat in the lowered position.

Figure 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention this time using a cable 68.

The manipulating mechanism is same as before but linkage between foot pedal 66 and the seat is a cable. This arrangement is more complex but allows freedom to arrange the foot pedal to any convenient place around the toilet. Figure 14 is same arrangement as shown in figure 13 but the toilet seat is in lifted position.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention broadly described herein without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention.