Toilet Seat Handle

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet seat and toilet seat handle combination. More particularly, the invention relates to a toilet seat having at least one handle.

Background of the Invention

[0002] A conventional toilet consists of a bowl, a toilet seat, and a cover. The toilet seat is usually used parallel to the bowl in a horizontal position or is used perpendicular to the bowl in an upright position.

[0003] When the toilet seat is used in an upright position, the toilet seat needs to be lifted upwards and away from the toilet bowl. In additional, the toilet seat is lowered to the horizontal position if the toilet seat had been in an upright position. The motions or actions of lifting and lowering the toilet seat require handling the toilet seat. It's commonly known that the majority of the surface area of the toilet bowl is exposed to urines during urination. Because the toilet seat is substantially close to the toilet bowl, if the handling of the toilet seat is not done properly and carefully, germs can be transmitted.

[0004] When a toilet seat is used in an upright position, the bottom of the toilet seat is exposed. During a usage, urine can travel in a wide range and often, the bottom side of the toilet seat can be covered with urine. Since urine can potentially gets on the toilet seat, it is necessary and important to provide an apparatus to handle the lifting and the lowering of the toilet seat so that an user may avoid exposing to urine or germs as must as possible.

[0005] The related art of interest describes various toilet seat handles but discloses the present invention.

[0006] U.S. Patent No.7,272,863 issued to Pratt ("Pratt") discloses a toilet seat and handle combination wherein the toilet seat has at least one groove and the handle comprises

at least one section that fits inside the groove. The bottom surface of the handle disclosed in Pratt illustrates a flat surface substantially adjacent to the bottom surface of the toilet seat. Pratt does not disclose, teach, or suggest that the bottom surface of the handle extends outwardly away from the bottom surface of the toilet seat to avoid contaminated with urine during usage.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 4,127,904 issued to Junker ("Junker") discloses a combination toilet seat and bidet wherein the toilet seat includes a handle. Similar to Pratt, the handle disclosed in Junker is also flat at the bottom surface substantially close to the bottom surface of the toilet seat wherein the urine can easily contaminate the handle during usage.

[0008] Other U.S. patents or patent application known to the invention in the field of toilet seats and toilet seat handles are: U.S. 6,842,916, U.S. 5,765,236, U.S. 5,619.758, U.S. Des. 352,883 and U.S. Des 414,852.

[0009] None of the above patents, taken either individually or in combination, teaches or suggests the present invention as described herein.

Summary of the Invention

[0010] A toilet seat handle comprising a bottom area, wherein the bottom area is substantially engaging the perimeter of a toilet seat; and a frontal area having an opening wherein the opening is substantially non-parallel to the bottom area and the opening having an inwardly curvature allowing sufficient grip by a user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Various embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to "an," "one," or "various" embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

[0012] Fig. 1 illustrates an environmental view of a toilet seat in combination with a bowl, a cover and a toilet seat handle.

[0013] Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a handle attached to a toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Fig. 3A illustrates a sectional view of a handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Fig. 3B illustrates a sectional view of a handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 3C illustrates a sectional view of a handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of a handle attached to a toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a toilet seat handle attached to a toilet seat in combination with a bowl and a cover wherein the toilet seat is in a horizontal position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of a toilet seat handle attached to a toilet seat in combination with a bowl and a cover wherein the toilet seat is in a vertical position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of The Invention

[0020] Fig. 1 illustrates an environmental view of a toilet seat in combination with a bowl, a cover and a toilet seat handle. In this figure, a toilet seat 110 is in a horizontal position resting on top of toilet bowl 100. A toilet seat handle 120 is attached to the front of the toilet seat 110. This figure also illustrates how the bottom of the toilet seat 110 may be exposed to urine and germs that is already on the surface of the bowl 100 when the toilet seat 110 is used in a horizontal position.

[0021] Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a handle attached to a toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. A toilet seat handle 200 may be attached to a toilet seat 250. The toilet seat 250 has a top side 270 and a bottom side 260. In an embodiment of the invention, the toilet seat handle 200 is attached to the front of the toilet seat 250. However, the toilet seat handle 200 may be attached to the toilet seat 250 at places other than the frontal section. For example, the toilet seat handle 200 may be attached to the right or left side of the toilet seat 250 (not illustrated hereto).

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the toilet seat handle 200 having an opening area 210 wherein the opening is indented and curved inwards creating a space for a user to grip onto the toilet seat handle 200. The opening is sufficiently wide and the upper portion of the opening area 210 is sufficiently curved downwards to enable the user to have a steady and sufficient grip when the user is lifting or lowering the toilet seat handle 200.

[0023] Also as shown in Fig 2 is that the opening area 210 is facing substantially away from the toilet set 250 and/or the bottom of the toilet seat 260. The opening area 210 does not need to be facing entirely and straight forward to the front. However, the opening area 210 should be positioned and facing a direction that is not substantially within the trajectory range during urination. In this embodiment, the opening area 210 is approximately in a 45 degree in relation to the bottom of the toilet seat 260. It should be noted that this degree is merely used as an example and the angle may be in a degree other than 45 degrees so long the opening area 210 is not substantially facing the same direction as the bottom of the toilet seat 260.

[0024] Fig. 3A illustrations a sectional view of a toilet seat handle 300 and a toilet set 350 according to an embodiment of the invention. In additional to the opening area 200 as described in Fig. 2, the toilet seat handle 300 may also include a bottom opening area 305. The toilet seat handle 300 may be attached to the toilet seat 350 via the bottom opening area 305.

[0025] It should also be noted that the bottom portion of the opening area 305 demonstrates an upward curve. The curvature does not need to be substantial. However, a curvature at the bottom potion of the opening area 305 may be used to provide extra shelter from the urination or spray or germ and unsanitary material.

[0026] When the toilet seat handle 300 is attached to the toilet seat 350, the bottom opening area 305 is substantially lined up with the upper portion of the toilet seat 350. The toilet seat handle 300 may be attached to the toilet seat 350 in many different ways. The example provide hereto are for illustration purpose and not limited to be ways that the toilet seat handle 300 may be attached to the toilet seat 350. In one example, an adhesive pad 310 may be affixed to the surface of the bottom open area 305 and another adhesive pad 351 any be affixed to the upper portion of the toilet seat 350. In this example, the toilet seat handle 300 may be attached to the toilet seat 350 via the adhesive pads as shown in element 395.

[0027] Yet in another example of attachment as shown in Fig. 3B, the bottom opening area 305 may include a member such as an embedded screw and the upper portion of the toilet seat 350 may include an opening to receive the screw. As shown in the above examples, the toilet seat handle 300 may be attached to the toilet seat 350 in many ways as long as the attachment provide a strong bonding for the toilet seat handle 300 and the toilet seat 350.

[0028] The upper portion of the toilet seat handle 300 may include decorative designs. In this example, the upper potion of the toilet seat handle 300 is decorated using a shell like design. However, the designs may be of a particular taste according to a user.

[0029] Yet in another example of attachment as shown in Fig. 3C, the toilet seat handle and the toilet seat may be made in one whole piece. The dotted line shown in Fig. 3C demonstrates that there is no physical separation between the toilet seat handle and the toilet seat.

[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of a toilet seat handle and a toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a toilet seat handle 400 is rested on top of a toilet seat 410 near the front of the toilet seat 410. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the toilet seat handle 400 is small enough as to not interfere with a user when the user is a position and when the toilet seat 410 is used in a horizontal position.

[0031] Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a toilet seat in combination with a bowl and a toilet seat handle wherein the toilet seat is in a horizontal position according to an embodiment of the present invention. A toilet seat 550 is in a horizontal position resting on top of a toilet bowl 560. In this embodiment. A toilet seat handle 500 is attached to toilet seat 550 in the front directly opposite from a tank 590. The toilet seat handle 500 has an opening area 510 to provide a grip for a user to lift or lower the toilet seat 550. As demonstrated in Fig. 5, the opening area 510 is facing substantially forward in proximally the same direction as the front of the toilet seat combination, shown as element 595. The opening area 500 also is facing substantially away from the toilet bowl 560. In one embodiment of the present invention, the opening area 510 may be at least 30 degree away from the toilet bowl 560.

[0032] Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of a toilet seat in combination with a bowl and a handle wherein the toilet seat is in a vertical position according to an embodiment of the present invention. A toilet seat 650 is in a vertical position resting adjacent to a toilet seat cover or in cases where there is no toilet seat cover, a water tank 670. In this embodiment, toilet seat 650 is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of a toilet bowl 660.

[0033] A toilet seat handle 610 is attached to the toilet seat 650. The toilet seat handle 610 has an opening area 600 to provide a grip for a user to lift or lower the toilet seat 650. In this embodiment, the opening area 600 is facing substantially upwards and away from the range

of urination. As it can be demonstrated in this illustration that because the opening area 600 does not face substantially the same direction as the bottom of the toilet seat 650, urine or other material likely to carry germs does not easily spread to the opening area 600 as it would normally spread on to the bottom of the toilet seat 650.

[0034] Although the invention has been described in detail hereinabove, it should be appreciated that many variations and/or modifications and/or alternative embodiments of the basic inventive concepts taught herein that may appear to those skilled in the pertinent art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.