Lift-off hinge assembly for toilets and the like

In combination, a toilet;

• having a substantially flat upper surface for mounting a pair of spaced hinge assemblies which assemblies pivotally and releasably affix a toilet seat and lid to the toilet, said upper surface of said toilet adapted to contact a substantially flat lower surface of a hinge block of each of said assemblies such that when each said hinge block is affixed to said toilet there is no well or cavity in which fluid may be retained;
• and a pair of hinge assemblies each assembly comprising a hinge pin having:
• (a)
• (i) a head portion having a base surface and a side surface,
• (ii) a clip portion extending from the base surface of the head portion and consisting of a flexible first jaw member having an outwardly-facing surface and a second jaw member having an oppositely outwardly-facing surface spaced from the outwardly-facing surface of the first jaw member, the first jaw member having a notch extending laterally across its outwardly-facing surface, and
• (iii) a pin portion extending from the said surface of the head portion and adapted to pivotally mate with a toilet seat or lid, and
• (b) a hinge block securable to the toilet, the hinge block having:
• (i) a hollow interior,
• (ii) a substantially flat lower exterior surface for contacting said toilet when said hinge block is secured to said toilet,
• (iii) a pair of solid walls extending upwardly and forwardly from said substantially flat lower surface,
• (iv) a first side facing upwardly and forwardly adapted to be brought into proximity with the base surface of said hinge pin, the said side having an entry opening permitting access to the interior and adapted to snugly receive the jaw members of the hinge pin,
• (v) a second side facing upwardly and rearwardly having a release opening permitting access to substantially the entire interior of said hinge block for cleaning purposes, and a bridge portion separating the entry opening of the said first side from the release opening in the said second side, the bridge portion defining a retaining member, so that, when the jaw members of the hinge pin are snugly received by the entry opening of the hinge block, the notch on the outwardly facing surface of the first jaw member engages the retaining member to mate the hinge pin to the hinge block, the outwardly facing surface of the first jaw member then being accessible through the release opening so that, upon the inward deflection of the first jaw member towards the second jaw member, the notch is released from engagement with the retaining member, thereby allowing the hinge pin to be removed from the hinge block, and
• (vi) the first jaw member being dimensioned to close substantially entirely the release opening when the hinge pin is mated with the hinge block,
• the axes of the pin portion of the hinge assemblies are arranged to be collinear when mounted on the toilet whereby any liquid falling on said hinge assemblies may drain towards said flat surface from which the liquid may be readily cleaned.