# US 12,004,694 B2 · Toilet seat lift assembly

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- Number: US 12,004,694 B2
- Document ID: US12004694B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/132,529
- Filed: 2023-04-10
- Published: 2023-09-07
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-03
- Assignees: Kohler Co.
- Applicants: Kohler Co.
- Inventors: Chanseol Chung
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004694B2

## CPC

- A47K 13/10: Devices for raising and lowering {; Collapsible or rotating seats or covers}
- A61G 7/1007: {mounted on or in combination with a toilet}
- A61G 5/14: Standing-up or sitting-down aids
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)

## Abstract

In one example, a lifting assembly for a toilet includes at least a track arm and a track. The track arm is configured to guide a toilet seat assembly from a first position to a second position. The track is coupled to a base enclosure of the toilet and providing a track path for the track arm, and the track path has a radius of curvature to limit the range of motion of the toilet seat assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A toilet comprising:
a toilet seat assembly configured to pivot about a pivot point between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the pivot point is substantially at a front of the toilet seat assembly;
a toilet base including a toilet bowl;
a lifting mechanism disposed within the toilet base such that the lifting mechanism is concealed when the toilet seat assembly is in the lowered position; and
a pivot rod pivotably supported by the toilet base on a first end of the pivot rod and coupled to a track arm on a second end of the pivot rod.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:
a track arm configured to guide the toilet seat assembly between the raised position and the lowered position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The toilet of claim 2, further comprising:
an extension rod pivotally coupled to the track arm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The toilet of claim 3, further comprising:
an actuator configured to extend and retract the extension rod to guide the toilet seat assembly between the raised position and the lowered position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The toilet of claim 4, wherein the actuator is configured to use hydraulic liquid to extend or retract the extension rod.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The toilet of claim 4, wherein the actuator is configured to use pressurized gas to extend or retract the extension rod.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The toilet of claim 4, wherein the actuator is configured to use electrical energy to extend or retract the extension rod.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:
a control system configured to receive an input to the toilet seat assembly from the raised position to the lowered position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:
a track having a radius of curvature to limit a range of motion of the toilet seat assembly between the raised position and the lowered position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The toilet of claim 1, wherein a front portion of the toilet seat assembly is not coupled to the toilet base.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The toilet of claim 1, wherein the lowered position of the toilet seat assembly corresponds to a sitting position for a user and the raised position of the toilet seat assembly corresponds to a standing position.

### Claim 12

A toilet comprising:
a toilet seat assembly configured to pivot about a pivot point between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the pivot point is substantially at a front of the toilet seat assembly;
a toilet base including a toilet bowl;
a lifting mechanism disposed within the toilet base such that the lifting mechanism is concealed when the toilet seat assembly is in the lowered position; and
an arcuate rack driven by a gear to extend and retract an extension rod to guide the toilet seat assembly between the raised position and the lowered position.

### Claim 13

An apparatus comprising:
a toilet seat assembly configured to pivot about a pivot point between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the pivot point is substantially at a front of the toilet seat assembly;
a lifting mechanism disposed within a toilet base including a bowl such that the lifting mechanism is concealed when the toilet seat assembly is in the lowered position; and
a pivot rod pivotably supported by a toilet base on a first end of the pivot rod and coupled to a track arm on a second end of the pivot rod.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
an extension rod pivotally coupled to the track arm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
an actuator configured to extend and retract the extension rod to guide the toilet seat assembly between the raised position and the lowered position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the actuator is configured to use hydraulic liquid to extend or retract the extension rod.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the actuator is configured to use pressurized gas to extend or retract the extension rod.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the actuator is configured to use electrical energy to extend or retract the extension rod.