Patents by Inventor Michael R. Leibfried

Michael R. Leibfried has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200288924
    Abstract: A fastening system for a toilet seat and/or cover includes a bolt, a nut, a hinge, and a retainer. The nut is coupled to the bolt and includes a locking member defining a plurality of teeth. The hinge is disposed between a head of the bolt and the nut. The retainer is configured to engage with the locking member and the hinge. The fastening system is configured to detachably couple a toilet seat to a toilet body. The fastening system is configured to be installed onto the toilet body from a single side of the toilet body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 9549647
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for coupling a toilet seat to a toilet includes a bolt including a proximal end comprising an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flange and lower flange defining a contact portion; and a threaded distal end; and a hinge including a first portion including a mechanism to rotatably couple the first portion to the toilet seat; and a second portion including a resilient member including a C-shaped engagement configured to be received by contact portion of the bolt via a snap fit in response to the application of a horizontal force to hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 9127706
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a bolt and a nut. The nut includes an inner member having a first engagement feature and a threaded opening, the threaded opening configured to receive the bolt, and an outer member having a second engagement feature. The inner member is axially coupled to the outer member via a snap fit. The inner member is configured to rotationally lock with the outer member through the interaction of the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature via an application of a threshold torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael R. Leibfried, Kurt W. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 8656522
    Abstract: A toilet mounting hinge includes post holders; an elongate post secured to and extending downwardly from each of said post holders; a post receptacle; and said elongate posts passing through and beyond said post receptacles and configured to permit a toilet seat to be slidably elevated above a toilet bowl to a maintenance position, and having a distal end configured to engage the receptacle in the maintenance position and to releasably support the elongate post in said maintenance position; wherein each of said post receptacles comprises a receptacle head, a threaded sleeve, and an insert liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Publication number: 20130216328
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a bolt and a nut. The nut includes an inner member having a first engagement feature and a threaded opening, the threaded opening configured to receive the bolt, and an outer member having a second engagement feature. The inner member is axially coupled to the outer member via a snap fit. The inner member is configured to rotationally lock with the outer member through the interaction of the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature via an application of a threshold torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Michael R. Leibfried, Kurt W. Leibfried
  • Publication number: 20130198942
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for coupling a toilet seat to a toilet includes a bolt including a proximal end comprising an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flange and lower flange defining a contact portion; and a threaded distal end; and a hinge including a first portion including a mechanism to rotatably couple the first portion to the toilet seat; and a second portion including a resilient member including a C-shaped engagement configured to be received by contact portion of the bolt via a snap fit in response to the application of a horizontal force to hinge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 8443469
    Abstract: A mount for a toilet seat includes a first elongate post configured to be secured to a first post holder; a second elongate post configured to be secured to a second post holder; a first hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the first post holder; a second hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the second post holder; a first post receptacle configured to be secured in a first aperture of a toilet bowl flange; and a second post receptacle configured to be secured in a second aperture of the toilet bowl flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Publication number: 20120266446
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for coupling a toilet seat hinge to a toilet flange includes a bolt with a proximal end including an upper flange and threaded distal end, a nut with a threaded opening that receives the threaded distal end of the bolt and a plurality of radial openings, and a set screw. The radial openings extend from a first end proximate to the threaded opening to a second end on the outer periphery of the nut. The set screw is received in one of the radial openings. The set screw provides a pressure to the threaded distal end of the bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Publication number: 20120151665
    Abstract: A mount for a toilet seat includes a first elongate post configured to be secured to a first post holder; a second elongate post configured to be secured to a second post holder; a first hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the first post holder; a second hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the second post holder; a first post receptacle configured to be secured in a first aperture of a toilet bowl flange; and a second post receptacle configured to be secured in a second aperture of the toilet bowl flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 8087103
    Abstract: A toilet including a toilet bowl having a bowl flange with apertures and a toilet seat. The seat has a seat ring configured to rest on the bowl flange and a seat mounting means, the mounting means having at least one ring portion extending from the ring, two flange portions, each flange portion being aligned with one of said flange apertures, and an connecting means joining said ring portion and said flange portions, said connecting means permitting rotation of said ring portion between a generally horizontal use position and an over center storage position position. The mounting apparatus for the seat includes a post receptacle secured in each of the flange apertures, an elongate post secured to and extending downwardly from each of the seat flange portions and longitudinally extendable through and beyond the aligned receptacle to permit the seat to be elevated above the bowl flange to facilitate maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 8082603
    Abstract: A toilet including a toilet bowl having a bowl flange with apertures, a toilet seat, a toilet seat cover and mounting apparatus. The seat comprises a seat ring configured to rest on the bowl flange and seat mounting means and the seat cover comprises a cover and cover mounting means. The mounting apparatus includes the seat mounting means, the cover mounting means, post holders which overlie the bowl flange apertures, and connecting means joining said seat and cover mounting means and the post holders to permit rotation of the seat ring and cover between a generally horizontal use position and an over center storage position. An elongate post is secured to and extends downwardly from each of the post holders. A post receptacle is positively secured in each of the bowl flange apertures and extends there beyond. A cylindrical receptacle retainer surrounds and engages each receptacle over most of its length and engages the underside of the bowl to positively secure the receptacle in the bowl flange aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Publication number: 20100125935
    Abstract: A toilet includes a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus includes post holders which overlie bowl flange apertures, and connecting means joining said seat and cover mount and the post holders to permit rotation of the seat ring and cover between a horizontal use position and a storage position. An elongate post is secured to and extends downwardly from each of the post holders. A post receptacle is secured in each of the bowl flange apertures and extends there beyond. A cylindrical receptacle retainer engages each receptacle over its length and engages the bowl to secure the receptacle in the bowl flange aperture. The elongate posts extend downwardly from each of the post holders and pass through and beyond the aligned receptacles. The posts have sufficient length to permit the seat to be elevated above the bowl flange to the over center maintenance position to provide adequate space for easy maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Publication number: 20090193569
    Abstract: An apparatus for a toilet seat hinge assembly has a shroud, a base plate, a pin or pins, two bolts, and two threaded nuts. The shroud has a contoured surface and molded bolt tracks. The base plate has a bolt entry opening and a bolt guide. The pin, or pins, are configured to interconnect the shroud to a toilet seat and optionally a toilet seat cover. The two bolts each have a threaded shaft and a head where the heads are either over-molded or configured to engage the bolt entry opening and the bolt tracks of the shroud. The two threaded nuts are configured to engage the threaded shafts of the two bolts. The apparatus provides a smoothly contoured, relatively joint-free surface for easy cleansing and maintenance of the hinge area of a toilet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried