Hidden hinge toilet seat and lid with water and electrical access

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9801508-B1
Application number	US-201615293753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A hidden hinge system for raising and lowering a toilet seat or toilet lid is disclosed. In one embodiment, each hinge includes a curved support with a smooth, easy to clean surface. The curved support is connected to a lever and the lever is connected to a hinge assembly. We disclose embodiments in which both the lever and the hinge assembly are enclosed within a toilet housing to improve cleanliness. We further disclose embodiments in which the curved supports are hollow and which contain electrical wiring, water, and gases. Controller and proximity sensors which modulate the raising and lowering of the toilet seat and toilet lid are also disclosed and claimed herein.

First claim

We claim:

1. A toilet comprising a hinge system for lifting and lowering a toilet seat, the toilet comprising:
a liftable toilet seat;
a toilet body;
a hinge system, the hinge system comprising:
a curved support, the curved support comprising:
a first and second end,
wherein the first end is attached to the toilet seat, and
wherein the curved support rotates and enters the toilet body through an opening in the toilet body as the toilet seat is lowered, and;

a lever,
wherein the lever comprises a first end and a second end;
wherein the first end of the lever is attached to the second end of the curved support, and
wherein the lever is located within the toilet body;

a hinge assembly;
wherein the hinge assembly is pivotally attached to the second end of the lever, and
wherein the hinge assembly is fixedly attached to a point within the toilet body.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the toilet comprises two hinge systems.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein a gasket surrounds the opening in the toilet body, wherein the gasket comprises a lip, and wherein the lip scrapes the curved support as the curved support enters the toilet body, thereby scraping debris from the curved support.

4. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the curved support further comprises at least one hollow interior cavity.

5. The toilet of claim 4 , wherein the at least one hollow interior cavity comprises one or more of the following:
electrical wiring, tubing for transporting water, and tubing for transporting gas.

6. The hinge system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the toilet seat, the gasket, and the curved support comprise of a bacterial resistant material.

7. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor provides power to lift and to lower the toilet seat.

8. The toilet of claim 7 , wherein the motor is controlled by a controller, and wherein the controller comprises a processor and a memory unit.

9. The toilet of claim 8 , wherein the processor is connected to at least one proximity sensor;
wherein the at least one proximity sensor detects when a user approaches the toilet and the processor sends a signal which automatically lifts the toilet seat, and;
wherein the at least one proximity sensor detects when the user steps away from the toilet and automatically lowers the toilet seat.

10. The toilet of claim 1 , a spring assist member, the spring assist member comprising:
a helical spring, wherein the helical spring comprises:
a coiled section; and
an extension;
wherein the extension is connected to and extends from an end of the coiled section;
wherein the extension is in contact with the lever; and
wherein the spring assist member provides resistance against the lever, thereby controlling the lifting and lowering of the toilet seat by controlling the motion of the lever.

11. A toilet comprising a hinge system for lifting and lowering a toilet lid, the toilet comprising:
a liftable toilet lid;
a toilet body;
a hinge system, the hinge system comprising:
a curved support, the curved support comprising:
a first and second end,
wherein the first end is attached to the toilet lid, and
wherein the curved support rotates and enters the toilet body through an opening in the toilet body as the toilet lid is lowered, and;

a lever,
wherein the lever comprises a first end and a second end;
wherein the first end of the lever is attached to the second end of the curved support, and
wherein the lever is located within the toilet body;

a hinge assembly;
wherein the hinge assembly is pivotally attached to the second end of the lever, and
wherein the hinge assembly is fixedly attached to a point within the toilet body.

12. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein the toilet comprises two hinge systems.

13. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein a gasket surrounds the opening in the toilet body, wherein the gasket comprises a lip, and wherein the lip scrapes curved support the curved support enters the toilet body, thereby scraping debris from the curved support.

14. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein the curved support further comprises at least one hollow interior cavity.

15. The toilet of claim 14 , wherein the at least one hollow interior cavity comprises one or more of the following:
electrical wiring, tubing for transporting water, and tubing for transporting gas.

16. The hinge system of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the toilet lid, the gasket, and the curved support comprise of a bacterial resistant material.

17. The toilet of claim 11 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor provides power to lift and to lower the toilet lid.

18. The toilet of claim 17 , wherein the motor is controlled by a controller, and wherein the controller comprises a processor and a memory unit.

19. The toilet of claim 18 , wherein the processor is connected to at least one proximity sensor;
wherein the at least one proximity sensor detects when a user approaches the toilet and the processor sends a signal which automatically lifts the toilet lid, and;
wherein the at least one proximity sensor detects when the user steps away from the toilet and automatically lowers the toilet lid.

20. The toilet of claim 11 , a spring assist member, the spring assist member comprising:
a helical spring, wherein the helical spring comprises:
a coiled section; and
an extension;
wherein the extension is connected to and extends from an end of the coiled section;
wherein the extension is in contact with the lever; and
wherein the spring assist member provides resistance against the lever, thereby controlling the lifting and lowering of the toilet lid by controlling the motion of the lever.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Allen Dan
• Reynolds Jared
• Larsen Joshua
• Pearman Terrece

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Allen Dan
• Reynolds Jared
• Larsen Joshua
• Pearman Terrece

Classifications

• A47K13/24

  Parts or details not covered in, or of interest apart from, groups A47K13/02 - A47K13/22 · CPC title

• A47K13/10

  Devices for raising and lowering {; Collapsible or rotating seats or covers} · CPC title

• A47K13/12 Primary

  Hinges · CPC title