Toilet seat hinge and method of use
AssigneeOlsonite Corporation
InventorMichael R. Twomey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toilet seat hinge and base assembly to retain toilet seats on a toilet bowl uses a pair of hinge bases and a pair of hinge leafs for each base. The base is adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl, with the leaf hinges securing the toilet seat ring and toilet seat cover to the hinge bases. Each leaf has the same shape and can be used to secure either the ring or the ring cover to the hinge base thereby simplifying installation or replacement procedures. The hinge base can also be used with molded seat covers and rings that include attachment tabs. The tabs interface with the hinge bases to form the seat assembly.
Claims14
In a toilet seat hinge having a pair of hinge bases and a pair of hinge leafs for each base, the improvement comprising each leaf having essentially the same shape so that each leaf can be used to attach to a toilet seat ring or toilet seat cover.
A toilet seat assembly comprising:
- a molded seat ring having a pair of attachment tabs extending from a rear portion thereof;
- a molded seat cover having a pair of attachment tabs extending from a rear portion thereof;
- a pair of hinge bases, each hinge base having a base portion and a pair of upstanding posts with a through opening in each post and a space between each post;
- wherein the attachment tabs of the seat ring and the attachment tabs of the seat cover are positioned so that one tab of each seat ring and seat cover is positioned between one space of one of the posts with the other tabs of the seat ring and seat cover being positioned between the space of the other posts, each pair of posts and tabs interconnected with a pin.
A toilet seat assembly comprising:
- a seat ring;
- a seat cover;
- a pair of hinge bases, each hinge base having a base portion and a pair of upstanding posts with a through opening in each post and a space between each post;
- first and second pairs of hinge leafs, all leafs having essentially the same shape, each leaf having a pivot arm portion and an attachment portion, wherein the pivot arm portions of the first pair are positioned between the upstanding posts of one hinge base with a connecting pin, and the attachment portions of the first pair are connected to the seat cover and seat ring, respectively, and the pivot arm portions of the second pair are positioned between the upstanding posts of the other hinge base with another connecting pin, and the attachment portions of the second pair are connected to the seat cover and seat ring, respectively.
A method of using a hinge base in a toilet seat assembly comprising:
- providing a pair of hinge bases, each hinge base having a base portion, and a pair of upstanding posts;
- providing either a molded seat ring and molded seat cover or a seat ring, seat cover, and two pairs of hinge leafs, each hinge leaf having a pivot arm portion;
- and either
- connecting the plastic molded seat ring and seat cover using a pair of tabs extending from each of the molded seat ring and molded seat cover and a pair of connecting pins, wherein one tab of each of the tabs of the molded seat ring and molded seat cover are positioned between the upstanding posts of a respective hinge base;
- or
- connecting a first pair of hinge leafs to each seat cover and a pair of hinge leafs to each seat ring, and connecting one leaf of each pair to a respective hinge base using a connecting pin, so that pivot arm portions of adjacent leafs are positioned between the upstanding posts of a respective hinge base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.