Toilet seat lifter

Abstract

Toilet Seat Lifter with a foot petal and attached lever arm, a base plate and integral fulcrum assembly, a telescoping lifting rod and a seat attachment bracket. The lifting rod is attached at one end to the lever arm by of a hinge pin. The seat bracket is attached at right angles to the opposite end of the lifting rod by a pivot shaft that pins the bracket to the lifting rod. The seat bracket is attached to the toilet seat by double sided adhesive tape. The base plate is attached to a bathroom floor by double sided adhesive tape . A preferred embodiment includes the foot plate having a non skid top surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates generally to the field of toilet accessories and more specifically to a toilet seat lifter. It is a common problem that a person, usually a male, must lift a toilet seat lid when using the toilet for urination while in the standing position. The process of lifting the lid by hand can cause sanitary problems because the underside of the seat can be covered with bacteria such as E coli. When a person touches a food substance with a hand that has previously touched an unclean seat bottom, the person may become seriously ill. Others have attempted to design a seat lifter that allows the user to lift the seat by a foot pedal operation, however, the previous designs do not easily attach to an existing toilet and do not fit on a wide variety of styles of toilets. Some previous designs require the user to modify the toilet seat in some way. Additionally, previous designs are more complicated in design and therefore more expensive to manufacture. Previous designs can not easily be attached to the right or left side of a toilet seat. Finally, previous designs have been hard to clean. Cleanability is very important in this type of product.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that allows the user to lift the seat by foot activation thereby eliminating the potential sanitary hazards associated with lifting the seat by hand.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that attaches to most common toilets.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that is easy to install.

[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that adjusts to all toilets.

[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that is inexpensive to manufacture.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that is easy to clean.

[0011] Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter that allows the seat to automatically return to the down position after use.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0013] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed Toilet Seat Lifter comprising: a foot petal and attached lever arm, a base plate and integral fulcrum assembly, a telescoping lifting rod, a seat attachment bracket, said lifting rod attached at one end to said lever arm by means of a hinge pin, said seat bracket attached at right angles to the opposite end of said lifting rod by a pivot shaft that pins said bracket to said lifting rod, said seat bracket attached to said toilet seat by double sided adhesive tape or other standard attachment means, and said base plate attached to a bathroom floor by double sided adhesive tape or other standard attachment means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention attached to a standard toilet.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention with the seat in the up position.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention with the toilet seat in the down position.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention with the toilet seat in the up position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a side view of a a toilet 22 with the present invention 100 attached. A base plate and fulcrum member 2 is attached to the floor 26 by double sided adhesive 24, although the base plate 2 may be attached by other standard means such as hook and loop type fasteners so that the entire assembly 100 can be removed for cleaning or other purposes. A foot pedal 6 and lever arm 7 is attached to base clevis by pivot pin 4. An integral attached lever arm 7 extends from the foot pedal 6 at a thirty degree angle. The lever arm 6 is attached to a telescoping lifting arm 10, 14 by pivot pin 8. Adjustment screw 12 locks the telescoping arms 10, 14 thereby allowing the user to accommodate toilets of different heights. Lifting arm 14 attaches to a seat bracket 102 by pivot pin 28. Seat bracket 28 attaches to the underside of seat 16 by double sided adhesive tape 72 or other standard fastening means such as hook and loop type fasteners. Obviously, a special toilet seat design could be manufactured that incorporated hinge pivot pin 28 into the seat itself rather than on a separate bracket 28. However, this would mean that the user would have to purchase a special toilet seat as well as the lifter mechanism described in the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the invention 100 in the up position. This is the position that is obtained when a user presses on pedal 6 with his or her foot. Seat 16 is lifted via hinge member 20 and is lifted high enough that a male user can easily urinate into the bowl portion 70 of the toilet without hitting the seat 16. The location of the pedal 6 is such that the user can stand in the proper position and urinate while keeping his foot on the pedal. The user can adjust the height of the seat lift by lengthening lifting rod 10, 14 or by attaching the seat bracket 28 further back toward the seat hinge member 20. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the invention 100 in the closed position. Because the invention 100 is made of relatively few components, the device 100 is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean. Hinge pin 28 can be pulled and seat bracket can be reversed to attached the device 100 on the opposite side of the toilet 22. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device 100 so that the seat 16 is in the up position. A person's foot 80 is shown pressing on pedal 6. Seat bracket 102 can be more clearly seen as it is attached to the underside of seat 16. In this way a the present invention 100 allows a person to easily raise a toilet seat without the use of his or her hands. The device easily attaches to all toilet seats without the need for tools. The simple design is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean.

[0020] While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Toilet Seat Lifter comprising:

a foot petal and attached lever arm;

a base plate and integral fulcrum assembly;

a telescoping lifting rod;

a seat attachment bracket;

said lifting rod attached at one end to said lever arm by means of a hinge pin;

said seat bracket attached at right angles to the opposite end of said lifting rod by a pivot shaft that pins said bracket to said lifting rod;

said seat bracket attached to said toilet seat by double sided adhesive tape or other standard attachment means; and

said base plate attached to a bathroom floor by double sided adhesive tape or other standard attachment means.

2. Toilet Seat Lifter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foot plate includes a non skid top surface.