Toilet lid safety lock
A toilet lid safety lock comprising a rigid base frame (46,32) adapted for slidable placement between a toilet seat assemblies mounting hinges and toilet bowl by loosening existing seat to bowl attachment fasteners (110a,b) and inserting either a side-mount embodiment (FIG. 2) for seat assemblies with distances approximately 2 inches or less between the toilet seat hinges and tank, or a rear-mount embodiment (FIG. 1) for standard size lid assemblies with distances of more than 2 inches between the mounting hinges and tank that comprises; pivotally mounted lock arm (16,38) attached to the mounted platform base adapted with a pivotal lock pad to make contact with the top side of the toilet lid (24) to block the lid from opening until the user pulls a handle (58a,b) to disengage a non-rotating slidable spring biased lock bar (62) that is inserted into a lock bar receiver (88,108) disposed in the pivotal lock arm, raises the toilet lid simultaneously, and closes the lid to allow the lock arm to rotate to the forward position until a stop plate (90,104) aligns and inserts the spring biased (68) lock bar into the lock bar receiver, thereby engaging the locking mechanism.
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to preventing small children from gaining access into a toilet bowl, more specifically to blocking a toilet lids ability to rotate to the lid open position.
2. Description of Prior Art
The use of toilet lid locking devices is known prior art. More specifically, toilet lid locking devices used to deny access of small children into toilet bowls are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, not withstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
The current invention is directed toward improving devices for denying access of small children into toilet bowls in a manner that is safe, aesthetically pleasing, and economical to the consumer.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,813 to Lawson (1985) describes a automatically engagable locking device consisting of a single mounting bar attached to the underside of the lid that carries a pivoted, spring-biased locking arm that is released by simple finger pressure and returns to a positive locking position automatically.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,551 to Gardner (1986) describes a lid lock comprising a hinge arm connected to the toilet lid, a locking base connected to a hinge arm, and a locking handle pivotally connected to the locking bar that engages and disengages the locking system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,784 to Camp (1981) describes a rectangular-shaped lock block with a forked interface hinge that is joined by a common axle which also serves to hold the interface hinge firmly against the toilet seat to deny access.
In respect, the Toilet Lid Safety Lock according to the present invention substantially decreases the conventional concepts and designs of the prior inventions, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of denying access of a small child into a toilet bowl by blocking a toilet lids ability to rotate to the open position The present invention achieves its intended objects and advantages through a new and useful unobvious combination of methods, steps and components with the use of a minimum number of functional parts and at a reasonable cost to manufacture with readily available materials.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGESAccordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the inventions process to block a toilet lid from rotating to the open position, several additional objects and advantages of my invention are:
-
- (a) to provide toilet lid locking apparatus that can be universally applied to a wide variety of toilet bowl seat assemblies thereby precluding the need to manufacture a wide variety of different toilet lid securing apparatus,
- (b) to provide a toilet lid securing apparatus that requires no modifications be made to existing toilet bowls, or toilet seat assemblies,
- (c) to provide a toilet lid securing apparatus that is aesthetically pleasing,
- (d) to provide a toilet lid securing apparatus that is easy to install at an inexpensive price for the consuming public.
- (e) to provide a rear-mount lid lock for toilet bowls with a space of approximately 2 inches or more from the extreme end of the toilet seat hinge connection points to edge of the toilet bowl.
- (f) to provide a side-mount lid lock for uneven surfaced bowls and seat hinge connection points in close proximity or flush against the toilet tank.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a toilet lid safety lock, in this, the present invention substantially fills this need. The prior art and commercial techniques do not suggest the inventive combination of component elements and features configured as disclosed and claimed herein.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of ensuing description and drawings.
DRAWING FIGURESIn the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetical suffixes.
In accordance with the present invention, a Toilet Lid Safety Lock comprises a rear-mount version for toilet bowls with distances of approximately 2 inches or more from the extreme edges of the of the bowl hinge connection assembly to the toilet tank, and a side mountable embodiment for bowl hinge assemblies that are under 2 inches, flush against the toilet tank, or have and uneven seat assembly mounting area.
In either case, the user slides a handle to disengage a lock bar from a lock bar receiver and opens the lid simultaneously, and closes the lid to allow the spring biased bolt to slide forward to engage the lock bar into the lock bar receiver, thereby preventing the lid from rotating to the open position.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 TO 15 A typical embodiment of the toilet lid safety lock is illustrated in
On the bolt assembly are handles 58a,b for the user of the lid lock to facilitate sliding the bolt assembly to a rearward position to disengage a locking mechanism. A generally rectangular shaped lock bar 62 with beveled edges, (not illustrated) is attached to the front side of the bolt assembly and adapted to slide into a beveled edge (not illustrated) lock bar receiver in a lock arm 16. On the center of the lock bar is a alignment shaft 64 that is approximately 2 inches in length that has a primary purpose of aligning the lock bar, lock bar receiver, and alignment shaft receivers 82,106. The bolt assembly is spring biased in a direction towards the lock bar by a suitable strength spring enclosed in a telescoping tube 68 and placed inside the lock group housing assembly behind the lock bolt and secured with a sliding spring retainer 70.
The bolt housing assembly
The rear-mount embodiment comprises a lock arm assembly
When the lid is closed, the weight of the lock pad causes the lock pad to pivot to its original position, which allows the lock arm to fully rotate forward until the arrest plate aligns the spring biased lock bar and lock bar receiver, respectively.
From the description above, a number of advantages become evident.
-
- (a) provides a durable inexpensive means to secure a toilet lid
- (b) will fit most lid and seat assemblies, including padded seats
- (c) provides a lid locking apparatus that is easily installed
- (d) provides a lid locking apparatus that works on wall mounted toilets
- (e) can be made by injection mold
- (f) provides a lid locking apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages associated therewith
- (g) provides a product that can be easily massed produced with readily available materials
- (h) provides ease of application due to the simplicity of the design
- (i) provides a apparatus that can be easily removed and reused.
The manner of using the Toilet Lid Safety Lock for both embodiments
Accordingly, the reader will see that the toilet lid safety lock can be used to inexpensively and conveniently to lock and secure a toilet bowl lid and deny access of small children. As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description, accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operations will be provided.
With respect to the above description, then it is to be realized that optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, fit function, and manner of operation, assembly and usage, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are indeed to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention further, since numerous modification will readily occur to those skilled it the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to exact connection and orientation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, fling within the scope of the invention. In as much as the present disclosure includes all contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description, and although this invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by examples given.
Claims
1. A toilet lid securing apparatus comprising:
- (a) a rear-mountable device capable of coupling between a toilet seat assembly hinge and surface of a toilet bowl utilizing existing fasteners adapted for connection to toilet bowl seat assembly surface mounting areas with distance of approximately 2 inches or more between a toilet tank and extreme edge of said toilet seat hinge assembly, and said toilet lid securing apparatus comprises side-mountable embodiment for toilet bowl surface mounting areas with restricted distance between a toilet tank and hinge mount area and uneven bowl surface mounting areas, a lock-arm adapted for pivotal connection to said rear and side mountable devices with means for preventing said lock-arms from rotating until a biased locking mechanism is overcome, and said lock-arm comprises a upper pivotal portion adapted for adjustment to allow said upper pivotal portion to be in contact or close proximity to surface of a toilet lids top side, whereby gaining access into said toilet lid requires said biased locking mechanism to be overcome and lid simultaneously raised, closing lid allows gravity to rotate said lock-arm to a predetermined position allowing said biased locking mechanism to re-engage, thereby blocking the lids ability to rotate to the open position, respectively.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 19, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 22, 2007
Inventor: Timothy Watkins (Schiller Park, IL)
Application Number: 11/229,210
International Classification: A47K 13/00 (20060101);