Abstract: The present disclosure provides a toilet seat hinge configured to couple a toilet seat to a toilet bowl. The toilet seat hinge including a base configured to be coupled to an upper surface of the toilet bowl, a post defining a pivot axis about which the toilet seat can rotate, the post being slidable onto the base in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the toilet bowl to couple the post to the base, and a cap pivotally coupled to the post. The cap being pivotable about the pivot axis to secure the post on the base.

Abstract: A fastening assembly is configured to couple a toilet seat hinge to a toilet bowl by a threaded shaft. The fastening assembly includes a fastening nut including a clamping portion having a resilient protrusion configured to allow axial movement of the fastening nut relative to the threaded shaft without rotation therebetween. The resilient protrusion has threads configured to engage the threaded shaft. The fastening nut includes a drive portion in which the clamping portion extends therefrom. The drive portion has a first segment coupled to a second segment by a shear segment. At least the first segment is configured to be engaged by a tool for the tool to rotate the fastening nut relative to the threaded shaft such that the shear segment fractures at a predetermined torque applied to the first segment relative to the second segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a toilet seat hinge configured to couple a toilet seat to a toilet bowl. The toilet seat hinge including a base configured to be coupled to an upper surface of the toilet bowl, a post defining a pivot axis about which the toilet seat can rotate, the post being slidable onto the base in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the toilet bowl to couple the post to the base, and a cap pivotally coupled to the post. The cap being pivotable about the pivot axis to secure the post on the base.

Abstract: An elevated toilet seat assembly is for a toilet and includes a hinge post configured to be coupled to the toilet and a toilet seat pivotably coupled to the hinge post about an axis. The toilet seat is made from a single piece of injection molded plastic. The toilet seat includes a support surface configured to support a person on the toilet seat and a guard extending below the support surface. The guard is configured to block waste from splashing out of the toilet during use. The toilet seat also includes a plurality of supports extending outwardly from an outer surface of the guard. The plurality of supports is configured to engage a rim of the toilet to position the support surface at an elevated height above the rim.

Abstract: A toilet seat includes a toilet seat frame having a first support surface and an edge defining an aperture extending through the toilet seat frame. The first support surface is configured to at least partially support a user on the toilet seat. The toilet seat also includes a flexible support member having an outer rim coupled to the edge of the toilet seat frame such that the flexible support member is suspended across the aperture of the toilet seat frame. The flexible support member includes a second support surface configured to at least partially support the user on the toilet seat.

Abstract: A fastening assembly is configured to couple a toilet seat hinge to a toilet bowl by a threaded shaft. The fastening assembly includes a fastening nut including a clamping portion having a resilient protrusion configured to allow axial movement of the fastening nut relative to the threaded shaft without rotation therebetween. The resilient protrusion has threads configured to engage the threaded shaft. The fastening nut includes a drive portion in which the clamping portion extends therefrom. The drive portion has a first segment coupled to a second segment by a shear segment. At least the first segment is configured to be engaged by a tool for the tool to rotate the fastening nut relative to the threaded shaft such that the shear segment fractures at a predetermined torque applied to the first segment relative to the second segment.

Abstract: A toilet seat includes a toilet seat frame having a first support surface and an edge defining an aperture extending through the toilet seat frame. The first support surface is configured to at least partially support a user on the toilet seat. The toilet seat also includes a flexible support member having an outer rim coupled to the edge of the toilet seat frame such that the flexible support member is suspended across the aperture of the toilet seat frame. The flexible support member includes a second support surface configured to at least partially support the user on the toilet seat.

Abstract: An elevated toilet seat assembly is for a toilet and includes a hinge post configured to be coupled to the toilet and a toilet seat pivotably coupled to the hinge post about an axis. The toilet seat is made from a single piece of injection molded plastic. The toilet seat includes a support surface configured to support a person on the toilet seat and a guard extending below the support surface. The guard is configured to block waste from splashing out of the toilet during use. The toilet seat also includes a plurality of supports extending outwardly from an outer surface of the guard. The plurality of supports is configured to engage a rim of the toilet to position the support surface at an elevated height above the rim.

Abstract: A method of forming interconnects in a semiconductor device is provided. A mask including first and second openings is formed over a non-conductive structure. An etch is performed through the mask openings to define (a) a via trench having a via trench width and (b) an interconnect trench having a smaller width than the via trench width. A fill layer is deposited over the structure and (a) fills only a partial width of the via trench to thereby define via trench cavity and (b) fills the full width of the interconnect trench. A further etch is performed through the via trench cavity to form a via opening extending downwardly from the via trench. The remaining fill layer material is removed. The interconnect trench, via trench, and via opening are metallized to form a trench interconnect, a via interconnect, and a via extending downwardly from the via interconnect.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a hinge post and a fastener for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl. The fastener includes a threaded portion configured to extend into a bore of the toilet bowl, a first segment coupled to an end portion of the threaded portion, a second segment configured to be engaged by a tool to rotate the fastener, and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments. The shear segment has a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when a torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount. The hinge assembly also includes a nut threadably coupled to the threaded portion of the fastener. The threaded portion, the first segment, the second segment, and the shear segment of the fastener are unitary.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a hinge post, a bolt having a head and a threaded shaft configured to extend into a bore in the toilet bowl for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl, and an adaptor having a first segment coupled to the head of the bolt, a second segment, and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments. The first and second segments are both configured to be engaged by a tool to rotate the bolt. The shear segment has a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when a torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount. The head of the bolt is fit into the adaptor such that the first segment of the adaptor surrounds the head.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a hinge post, a threaded fastener extending through the hinge post and configured to extend into a bore in the toilet bowl, a bushing positioned around a portion of the threaded fastener, and a nut threadably coupled to the threaded fastener. The nut includes an expandable section configured to extend into the bore in the toilet bowl. The nut has a surface that is engaged by a surface of the bushing so that the expandable section of the nut expands as the nut moves relative to the threaded fastener to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor die may have the steps of:—Providing a semiconductor substrate;—Processing the substrate to a point where shallow trench isolation (STI) can be formed;—Depositing at least one underlayer having a predefined thickness on the wafer;—Depositing a masking layer on top of the underlayer;—Shaping the masking layer to have areas of predefined depths;—Applying a photolithograthy process to expose all the areas where the trenches are to be formed; and—Etching the wafer to form silicon trenches wherein the depth of a trench depends on the location with respect to the masking layer area.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for a toilet having a bowl and a seat includes a hinge post configured to mount to the bowl. The hinge post includes a splined inner surface defining a bore. The hinge assembly also includes a pintle extending through the bore and configured to engage the seat to pivotally couple the seat to the hinge post. The pintle includes a splined portion that engages the splined inner surface of the hinge post to prevent rotation of the pintle relative to the hinge post.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a hinge post, a threaded fastener extending through the hinge post and configured to extend into a bore in the toilet bowl, a bushing positioned around a portion of the threaded fastener, and a nut threadably coupled to the threaded fastener. The nut includes an expandable section configured to extend into the bore in the toilet bowl. The nut has a surface that is engaged by a surface of the bushing so that the expandable section of the nut expands as the nut moves relative to the threaded fastener to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a hinge post, a bolt having a head and a threaded shaft configured to extend into a bore in the toilet bowl for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl, and an adaptor having a first segment coupled to the head of the bolt, a second segment, and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments. The first and second segments are both configured to be engaged by a tool to rotate the bolt. The shear segment has a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when a torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount. The head of the bolt is fit into the adaptor such that the first segment of the adaptor surrounds the head.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for a toilet having a bowl and a seat includes a hinge post configured to mount to the bowl. The hinge post includes a splined inner surface defining a bore. The hinge assembly also includes a pintle extending through the bore and configured to engage the seat to pivotally couple the seat to the hinge post. The pintle includes a splined portion that engages the splined inner surface of the hinge post to prevent rotation of the pintle relative to the hinge post.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor die may have the steps of:—Providing a semiconductor substrate;—Processing the substrate to a point where shallow trench isolation (STI) can be formed;—Depositing at least one underlayer having a predefined thickness on the wafer;—Depositing a masking layer on top of the underlayer;—Shaping the masking layer to have areas of predefined depths;—Applying a photolithograthy process to expose all the areas where the trenches are to be formed; and—Etching the wafer to form silicon trenches wherein the depth of a trench depends on the location with respect to the masking layer area.