Toilet seat and lid assembly
OwnerAaron G. Hogueinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toilet seat and lid, each comprising a rigid insert injection molded of reinforced thermoplastic material. Each insert is then over-molded by injection molding with a thermoplastic elastomeric material which provides the outer surface of seat and lid. The inserts are dimensioned with respect to their over-molded surfaces to be smaller than the finished seat and lid and are designed to give maximum strength to the seat and lid. Each insert is shaped to promote the flow of the over-mold material and to minimize shrinking, swelling or distortion of the insert. The elastomeric material is preferably chemically compatible with the inserts to allow a chemical as well as mechanical bond to take place. The over-molded material provides the desired soft, non-slip, warm to the touch outer characteristics of the seat and lid.
Claims22
A seat assembly for a toilet, said assembly comprising:
- a strong, substantially rigid, lightweight injection molded seat insert of a first synthetic material;
- said molded seat insert having a top surface, a bottom surface and surrounding side surfaces;
- at least part of said top surface having an injection over-mold layer of a second synthetic material to form a finished toilet seat having a substantially non-slip seating surface;
- said injection molded seat insert constitutes substantially the bulk of said finished seat;
- said first synthetic material and said second synthetic material being chemically compatible so that a chemical bond occurs between said injection molded seat insert and said over-mold layer.
A method of making a seat assembly for a toilet comprising the steps of:
- (a) injection molding a strong, substantially rigid, lightweight seat insert of a first synthetic material;
- said molded seat insert having a top surface, a bottom surface and surrounding side surfaces;
- (b) injection over-molding at least part of said top surface with an over-mold layer of a second synthetic material to form a finished toilet seat having a substantially non-slip seating surface;
- said injection molded seat insert constitutes substantially the bulk of said finished seat;
- said first synthetic material and said second synthetic material being chemically compatible so that a chemical bond occurs between said injection molded seat insert and said over-mold layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.