Toilet seat lifter with flusher
OwnerRobert W. Stemeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for raising and lowering a toilet seat in response to actuation of foot pedals. An actuation cylinder with a contained piston is connected between the toilet bowl and the toilet seat. Water from the supply line for the toilet is routed to the actuator cylinder when a seat up pedal is depressed and causes the piston to extend out of the actuation cylinder and raise the seat. Operation of a flush pedal causes the water within the actuation cylinder to drain so that the toilet seat lowers. A mechanical linkage from the flush pedal to the flush mechanism of the toilet links toilet flushing to the seat lowering action, ensuring that the seat is lowered after each flush.
Claims13
A toilet seat raising mechanism comprising;
- an input line for connection with a water supply line under pressure;
- a seat actuator adapted for moving a toilet seat between a lowered position and a raised position in response to changes in pressure, wherein the seat actuator places the toilet seat in the lowered position when the pressure is at a first pressure level and the seat actuator places the toilet seat in the raised position when the pressure is at a second pressure level;
- a first control for causing a first change in the pressure in the seat actuator from a first pressure level to a second pressure level in response to a first activation input;
- a second control operating in response to a second input to selectively place the input line in communication with a drain and thereby causing a second change in the pressure from the second pressure level towards the first pressure level;
- and
- a flush actuator for flushing a toilet in response to an operation of the second control.
The water control valve for a toilet seat raising mechanism, the water control valve comprising:
- a valve housing comprising a water supply input, a valve cylinder outlet, a water release port, wherein the water supply input is connected to a water supply under pressure, and wherein:
- a seat actuator valve for selectively placing the water supply input in communication With the valve cylinder outlet in response to the first input;
- a flush valve for:
- selectively preventing communication between the water supply input and the valve cylinder outlet;
- selectively placing the valve cylinder outlet in communications with the water release port when communication is prevented between the water supply input and the valve cylinder outlet;
- and
- a mechanical linkage between the flush valve and a flush actuator for causing a toilet to flush upon operation of the flush valve.
The water control valve for a toilet seat raising mechanism, the water control valve comprising:
- a valve housing comprising a water supply input, a valve cylinder outlet, a water release port, wherein the water supply input is connected to a water supply under pressure;
- a seat actuator valve, contained within the valve housing, comprising:
- a seat actuator piston cavity, contained within the valve housing;
- a seat actuator piston, moveably mounted within the seat actuator piston cavity;
- a seat actuator cylinder channel that is located within the seat actuator piston and positioned so as to selectively place the water supply input in communication with the valve cylinder outlet based upon a first position of the seat actuator piston within the seat actuator piston cavity;
- and
- a seat actuator piston spring for urging the seat actuator piston into a position that prevents communication between the water supply input and the valve cylinder outlet;
- a flush valve contained within the valve housing, comprising:
- a flush piston cavity, contained within the valve housing;
- a flush piston, moveably mounted within the seat actuator piston cavity;
- an inlet to cylinder channel that is located within the flush piston and positioned so as to selectively place the water supply input in communication with the valve cylinder outlet based upon a first position of the flush piston within the flush piston cavity;
- a cylinder drain channel that is located within the flush piston and positioned so as to, based upon a second position of the flush piston within the flush piston cavity, selectively place the valve cylinder outlet in communication with the water release port when the inlet to cylinder channel is not in a position to allow communication between the water supply input and the valve cylinder outlet;
- and
- a flush piston spring for urging the flush piston into a position that prevents communication between the valve cylinder outlet and the water release port;
- a mechanical linkage between the flush valve and a flush actuator for causing a toilet to flush upon operation of the flush valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.