US 6,615,411 B2 · Toilet seat sanitary protector changer

Abstract

There is provided a toilet seat sanitary protector changer which may be provided in new public rest facilities or retrofitted to existing facilities. The changer generally includes a seat having a supply assembly positioned on one side and a takeup assembly provided on the opposite side. The seat includes mounting structure for movably mounting the seat to an existing toilet bowl. The changer is configured to receive a supply of a continuous strip of sanitary protective covers in supply assembly and feed the covers across the seat to the takeup assembly. The takeup assembly includes a slotted takeup rod configured to receive a leading end of the strip of covers and a prestressed constant torque spring motor affixed relative to the takeup rod so as to rotate the takeup rod a predetermined number of times. A multiplier gear may be provided to increase the number of turns of the takeup rod relative to the number of turns of the spring motor. The supply assembly includes a braking mechanism which is configured to tension the strip of protectors across the seat and a sensor which is engageable with apertures in the protective covers so as to halt advancement of the cover as an aperture of the cover overlies the opening of the toilet seat. A release mechanism or pushbutton may be provided to override the brake mechanism. The seat takeup assembly and supply assembly are provided as a single unit which is movable from a position adjacent the toilet seat to a position spaced apart from the toilet seat.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A toilet seat sanitary cover changer for use with a conventional toilet bowl comprising:

a toilet seat defining an aperture therein;
a supply assembly on a first side of said toilet seat;
a takeup assembly on a second side of said toilet seat, said takeup assembly including a takeup rod having an elongated slot, and a prestressed spring motor operatively engageable with said takeut, rod, said prestressed spring motor connected to a multiplier gear between said motor and said takeup rod for converting a limited number of turns of said motor into a larger number of turns of said takeup rod and for providing a relatively constant torque to said takeup rod over a predetermined number of working turns of said takeup rod;
and
a roll of sanitary covers positionable in said supply assembly, an end of said roll of covers extendable over said aperture of said seat and insertable into said slot of said takeup rod said sanitary covers including a plurality of first apertures indexible to correspond to said aperture of said seat.

2 more elements

A toilet seat sanitary cover changer for use with a toilet bowl comprising:

a seat defining an aperture therein;
a hinge affixed to said seat for movably mounting said seat on a toilet bowl between a first position adjacent to the toilet bowl and a second position spaced apart from the toilet bowl;
a supply assembly affixed to and displaceable with said seat, said supply assembly including a housing for receipt of a continuous roll of sanitary toilet seat covers having a leading end and a braking mechanism releasably engageable with said roll of sanitary toilet seat covers;
a takeup assembly having a housing affixed to and displaceable with said seat, said takeup assembly including a takeup rod rotatably supported in said housing and having an elongated slot, which extends through a front end of said takeup rod and receives said leading end of said continuous roll of sanitary toilet seat covers and a prestressed spring motor engageable with said takeup rod and, connected to a multiplier gear between said motor and a rear end of said takeup rod for converting a limited number of turns of said motor into a larger number of turns of said takeup rod and for providing a relatively constant torque to said takeup rod over a predetermined number of working turns of said takeup rod, said spring motor operable to rotate said takeup rod such that upon engagement of said braking mechanism with the roll of sanitary toilet seat covers, said takeup rod tensions a section of said roll of sanitary toilet seat covers over said seat and upon disengagmenet of said braking mechanisms said spring motor turns said takeup rod to wind a section of said roll of sanitary toilet seat covers about said takeup rod, whereas said leading end of said continuous roll is continuously engaged into said slot of said takeup rod during engagement and disengagement of said braking mechanism.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Toilet seat sanitary protector changer

Life of this patent

Toilet seat sanitary protector changer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16