Hinge assembly for a toilet seat

A hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl;
• a bolt connectable to the hinge post for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl, the bolt being configured to extend through an opening in the toilet bowl;
• and
• a nut threadable onto the bolt to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl, the nut having a first segment threadable onto the bolt, a second segment and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments, the shear segment having a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount.

A hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl, the hinge post including a bushing configured to extend into and conform to the shape of an opening in the toilet bowl;
• a bolt embedded in the hinge post, the bolt extending through the bushing and being configured to extend through the opening in the toilet bowl;
• and
• a nut threadable onto the bolt to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl.

A pre-assembled nut for a hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the hinge assembly including a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl, and a bolt connectable to the hinge post for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl, the bolt being configured to extend through an opening in the toilet bowl, the nut being threadable onto the bolt to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl, and the nut comprising:

• a first segment threadable onto the bolt, the first segment including internal threads for threading the nut onto the bolt;
• a second segment having an inner wall such that the second segment does not thread onto the bolt;
• a shear segment connecting the first and second segments, the shear segment having a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount;
• a neck segment extending from the first segment, the neck segment having therethrough an opening configured to receive the bolt;
• and
• a washer surrounding the neck segment while being free to rotate relative to the neck segment, the washer being mounted on the neck segment such that a force other than gravity must be applied to remove the washer from the neck segment, the washer being configured to engage the toilet bowl.

A method of packaging and installing a hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the method comprising:

• providing a hinge assembly including a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl, a bolt for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl, and a pre-assembled nut including a first segment threadable onto the bolt, the first segment having therethrough an opening configured to receive the bolt, a neck segment extending from the first segment, the neck segment having therethrough an opening configured to receive the bolt, and a washer surrounding the neck segment while being free to rotate relative to the neck segment, the washer being mounted on the neck segment such that a force other than gravity must be applied to remove the washer from the neck segment, the washer being configured to engage the toilet bowl;
• thereafter placing the hinge assembly including the pre-assembled nut in packaging;
• thereafter removing the hinge assembly including the pre-assembled nut from the packaging;
• and
• thereafter installing the hinge assembly on the toilet bowl by extending the bolt through an opening in the toilet bowl to connect the hinge post to the toilet bowl, and thereafter threading the nut onto the bolt to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl, the nut being threaded onto the bolt so that the washer engages the toilet bowl.