The present invention relates to a bracket for connecting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl.

The difficulties with refitting toilet seats dissuades most people from removing toilet seats from attachment to the toilet bowl for sanitising, resulting in the build up of unpleasant bacteria providing a health hazard. Furthermore, and an even more acute problem is the strength of the connection between the toilet seat and the toilet, where hinges continually loosen and eventually fall apart, resulting in a consumer having to purchase an entire new seat and connecting mechanism.

The present invention aims to overcome the problems associated with weak toilet seat connecting mechanisms having short life spans thus requiring regular replacement.

According to the present invention, there is a provided a bracket for connecting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, the bracket being of sufficient length to extend between at least two bolt- receiving apertures of a toilet bowl, and having at least one aperture therein corresponding to said bolt receiving apertures for receiving respective bolts so as to extend therethrough into said bolt receiving apertures and connect said bracket to said toilet bowl, said bracket further comprising a hinge portion that is immovable relative thereto and arranged and configured to co-act with a respective hinge portion of a toilet seat in order to enable pivotable movement of said toilet seat relative to said bracket.

Benefits of the arrangement as described are significant as a secure toilet seat bracket is provided which ensures a secure fit between toilet seat and toilet bowl.

The hinge portion of the bracket preferably comprises at least two protrusions extending from said bracket, said protrusions arranged and configured to co-act with corresponding protrusions on a toilet seat. The protrusions of said toilet seat are preferably arranged to locate within a corresponding receiving portion of the protrusions of the bracket.

The bracket preferably comprises two apertures, arranged and configured to each receive a fixing member for passing said bolt through corresponding apertures in said toilet bowl. Beneficially, the bracket also comprises a recess therein arranged and configured to receive the head of the bolt. A nut is preferably arranged to co-act with the bolt. The bolt is therefore passed through the bracket and through an aperture in the toilet bowl, and the nut clamps the bracket to the toilet bowl.

The head of the bolt is preferably arranged and configured to interlock with a portion of the recess in said bracket thereby preventing relative rotation therebetween. At least the surface of the portion of the recess surrounding the aperture preferably comprises a plurality of serrations, arranged to co-act with a corresponding plurality of serrations on the underside of the head of the bolt. Even more beneficially, the head of the bolt is shaped and configured to substantially match at least one edge of the recess thereby further preventing relative rotation therebetween.

The bracket preferably further comprises a means to removably attach a toilet seat thereto. The means to removably attach a toilet seat to the bracket comprises a slot therein for receiving a corresponding projection on said lid.

The nut preferably comprises a body and an intermediate portion. The threaded portion of the bolt is preferably arranged to interlocate with the threaded internal diameter of the intermediate portion. The threaded portion preferably comprises at least two fingers, arranged and configured such that said fingers are forced outwards from the central axis of the intermediate portion when a threaded portion of the bolt is secured therethrough. The body of the nut comprises an aperture shaped to receive the intermediate portion. The body of the nut preferably comprises a threaded portion for receiving the outer threaded surface of the intermediate portion. The body preferably locates into the intermediate portion, thereby locking fingers of the intermediate portion within the aperture of the second body. This arrangement provides a nut and bolt arrangement that will not come loose through general use, and also provides for a specific tool enabling a tight fit to be achieved.

There is preferably further provided a toilet seat assembly comprising a bracket, toilet seat, toilet lid and bolt. The bolt, toilet seat, toilet Hd and fixing means are preferably made of a polymeric material, and even more preferably are made of nylon.

According a further aspect of the present invention, there is a method of connecting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, comprising the steps of providing a bracket of sufficient length to extend between at least two bolt-receiving apertures of a toilet bowl, and having at least one aperture therein corresponding to said bolt receiving apertures for receiving respective bolts so as to extend therethrough into said bolt receiving apertures and connect said bracket to said toilet bowl by passing a bolt through said bracket, said bracket further being provided with a hinge portion that is immovable relative thereto and arranged and configured to co-act with a respective hinge portion of a toilet seat in order to enable pivotable movement of said toilet seat relative to said bracket.

The present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bracket according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the bracket as indicated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a bolt for fixing the bracket to the toilet bowl;

Figure 4 is a schematic assembly drawing of a nut, intermediate portion and bolt for fixing the bracket to the toilet bowl;

Figure 5 is the components of Figure 4 assembled;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a toilet seat according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the toilet seat of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a bracket, toilet seat and cover assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a toilet seat cover according to the present invention; and

Figure 10 is a schematic drawing of a finishing strip.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is a schematic perspective view of the bracket 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bracket 2 comprises a substantially flat underside (not visible in Figure 1) which locates onto a face of the toilet bowl, and has a front side 3 which locates closest to the toilet bowl when in use, and a rearward side. Apertures 4 are provided in the bracket 2 such that when the bracket is placed onto a toilet bowl the apertures 4 line up with the holes in the toilet bowl, such that a bolt (not shown in Figure 1) can pass through both the bracket 4 and through the toilet bowl in order to clamp the bracket 2 in position. The apertures 4 are longer than required for a bolt to pass therethrough in order that the bracket 2 is universal for a number of hole spacing configurations in the toilet bowl. The apertures 4 sit in a recessed portion 6 of the bracket 2, such that when a bolt is passed through the apertures 4, the bolt head does not protrude beyond the height of the perimeter of the recess 6. The recess 6 is also shaped of suitable dimensions with respect to the bolt such that the bolt fits within the recess 6 and may not rotate with respect to the bracket 2 once located within the recess 6. The surface surrounding the aperture 4 has a suitable surface configuration to interlock with the face of the head of the bolt. As indicated in Figure 1, the surface preferably comprises a series of serrations 8 that interlock with a corresponding series of serrations on the underside of the head of the bolt. This prevents relative movement between the bolt and the bracket 2.

The side walls of the recess 6 perpendicular to the front and rearward side of the bracket further comprise a arcuate cutout section 10 at opposing ends, which are shaped to receive the toilet cover as described further with reference to Figure 9. Additionally, indentations 12 are provided in the same side for receiving a protrusion of the bracket cover as described with reference to Figure 10.

The bracket 2 is locked onto the toilet bowl such that the front side of the bracket 2 comprising a connecting portion 14 is provided at the edge closest to the bowl of the toilet when fixed in use, and is arranged to enable hinged movement of the seat relative to the bowl. The toilet seat connects directly to the bracket 2. There are preferably provided a plurality of female protrusions 16, extending from the bracket 2, into which slot male protrusions located on the toilet seat. The bracket 2 is made of an elastic material, and therefore the female protrusions are arranged to elastically deform when subject to applied pressure of relative magnitude such that the male protrusions may slot therein, and allow relative rotation therebetween.

Referring to Figure 3, the bolt 18 as described above is schematically represented. The head of the bolt is shaped to locate within the recess 6 such that rotation therebetween is prevented. The elongate portion 20 of the bolt 18 is cylindrical, and slots through the aperture 4. As previously described, the underside of the bolt 18 comprises a plurality of serrations 22 which enable interlocking with the surface surrounding the aperture 4 such that relative movement therebetween is prevented.

Referring to Figure 4a and b and Figure 5 a and b, a nut 27 and bolt 18 is shown along with an intermediate portion 21. It will be appreciated that the bolt 18 passes through the bracket 2, through the aperture in the toilet bowl to be clamped by the nut arrangement. If necessary, an insert may be placed between the elongate portion of the bolt 20 and the toilet bowl in order to ensure a tight fit therebetween. The opposite end of the bolt 18, relative to the head 24, is threaded 20 around its circumference to allow it to rotatably engage within an intermediate portion 21. The intermediate portion 21 comprises a generally circular cross section, elongate member having an internal cavity extending through the length of the elongate member. The uppermost end of the intermediate portion is internally threaded 23, and has a plurality of grooves 23 in it's direction of longitude that allow the circumference to expand if a larger diameter bolt 18 is rotatably arranged therein. This enables various size bolts to be secured therethrough without requiring separate intermediate portions. It is envisaged 6, 8 and 10mm bolts could all be used with a single size intermediate portion. The lowermost end of the intermediate portion is externally threaded 25. A nut 27 (as indicated in Figure 4b in cross section) for rotatably engaging

the externally threaded portion 25 of the intermediate portion 21, comprises an open cylinder being internally threaded 26 and substantially fully open at the end that rotatably engages the intermediate section and partially open at the non-engaging end. Four depressions 27 are provided on the closed portion of the face of the non-engaging end (as indicated in Figure 5b), that may be utilised by a tool 29 having substantially equal but opposite protrusions, to tighten the nut on the underside of the toilet bowl to that which the head of the bolt rests. It will be appreciated that this configuration allows for a connection providing greater inherent friction and therefore a longer lasting connection. Furthermore, as the head 24 of the bolt 18 is prevented from rotating, a tight fit is enabled between nut and bolt. Varying size diameter bolts may be independently rotatably engaged in the same sized intermediate portion.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the toilet seat 30 is schematically shown in a perspective and plan view. As described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the seat comprises a plurality of male protrusions 32, shaped to be received by female protrusions of the bracket 2. The seat 30 therefore hingedly attaches to the bracket 2 and provides a strong joint that is not susceptible to movement in any other direction than rotation about a horizontal axis. It will be appreciated that a small number of corresponding protrusions may be used, however the lower number provided the weaker the join attained.

The underside of the toilet seat (not shown) is also preferably shaped such that it rests directly onto the rim of the toilet bowl. There is further provided a recess within the underside of the toilet seat which enables close fitting onto the rim, and also provides further resistance against rotation of the seat off the rim of the bowl.

Referring to Figure 8, the complete arrangement of the bracket 2, toilet seat 30 and seat cover 40 are shown schematically in a perspective view. Like parts have been indicated with the same reference numerals. Protrusions 42 on the cover 40 locate within the indentations of the bracket, at the rearward side of the bracket. This provides coverage of the hinge means 14 when the cover 40 is in the down position.

Referring to Figure 9, there is a schematic perspective view of a cover 40, with protrusions 42 indicated arranged to locate with the arcuate cutout 10 of the bracket 2. The protrusions are circular, and thus rotate within the indentations of the bracket 2.

Referring to Figure 10, a cover portion 50 is provided to locate over the rearward portion of the bracket, and covers the bolt head from view. This cover also acts to complete the loop of the arcuate cutout 10, and therefore aids to hold the seat cover 40 in position.

The present invention has been described by way of example only, and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims .