Toilet lid latch

Abstract

The present invention comprises a device for retaining a toilet lid of a conventional toilet in an upright or open position. An exemplary embodiment comprises a weighted piece of fabric with an enclosure containing a weight made of wood, ceramic or metal. The device is affixed or anchored to the top of the toilet tank, whereby a portion of the material drapes over the apex of the toilet seat and lid to hold in an upright position. The device may also have a hook or loop or suction cups to keep the device on the top surface of the tank.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to toilets and, more particularly, to a latch for a toilet lid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Toilet lid latches have been described in the prior art. However, none of the prior art discloses the unique features of the present invention.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,612, dated Aug. 20, 1996, Johnson disclosed an automatic toilet seat lowering device integrated into a seat hinge assembly such that a raised seat, w hen approaching the last ten degrees of upward travel, is latched against the bias of a torsion spring. A rod connected to a flush handle unlatches the seat to allow the spring to bias the seat into an initial stage of descent. During descent, a leaf-type spring on the seat engages a catch on a lid to pull the lid into the descent. The speed of descent of seat and lid is controlled by friction between rotating and non-rotating brake discs mounted on an extension of an axle of the hinge assembly. The brake discs are compressed between a thrust cam driven by the descending seat and a compression spring mounted on the axle. Some of the brake discs are further configured to perform additional functions such as latching the seat in the raised position, and protecting the hinge assembly from excessive-force damage as well as enabling adjustment for differing seat thicknesses.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,762 B1, dated May 7, 2002, Moser disclosed a quick release hinge assembly for a toilet seat. The assembly includes a pair of fasteners each having a flange for engaging a toilet bowl when attached thereto and a head spaced above the flange. An anchor plate has a pair of slots formed on the bottom side thereof which cooperate with the heads of the fasteners to secure the anchor plate to a toilet bowl. The anchor plate further includes a resiliently biased latch formed in the top surface thereof which locks and unlocks the anchor plate from one of the fastener heads to permit the anchor plate to slide off of the fasteners and a pair of spaced hinge mounting supports extending from the anchor plate to which a toilet seat and lid can be pivotally coupled.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,694 B1, dated Apr. 10, 2001, Porzio disclosed a toilet accessory mounted to the toilet seat cover and having a blocking device extending beyond a perimeter of the cover to block access to a flush handle of the toilet when the cover is in the raised position. A latching device on the accessory removably latches to the seat such that as the cover is moved between the raised and lowered positions, the seat is held by the opposite end of the toilet seat accessory and moves with the cover between the raised and lowered positions. The latching device has a tab connected with the latching device, whereby upon the cover and seat being in the raised position, pushing on the tab removes the latching device from the seat, thereby releasing the seat from being latched with the cover.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,362, dated Aug. 16, 1988, Eure disclosed a Velcro latching device for a torroidal toilet seat and a toilet seat cover. In a first embodiment an elongated attaching strap has one end adhesively secured to an upper surface to a toilet seat cover and a Velcro attaching device at its free end. A Velcro patch member is adhesively secured to the lower surface of the toilet seat cover to receive the Velcro attaching device on its exposed surface. The elongated attaching strap is sufficiently long to be looped over the toilet seat so as to engage the Velcro patch member and thereby secure the toilet seat to the cover member when each are in a raised position. In the second embodiment, the elongated strap is adhesively secured to the under surface of the toilet seat cover and the Velcro patch member is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the toilet seat cover. The elongated attaching strap is sufficiently long to be looped through the opening in the torroidal toilet seat member and then over the top of the toilet seat cover member to engage the Velcro patch member thereby securing the toilet seat member to the cover member when both members are in a raised position.

While these toilet lid latches may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses a mechanism for a toilet lid latch for use with a conventional toilet. The present invention comprises a weighted piece of fabric having a pocket therein containing the weight, which fabric is draped over the apex of the toilet seat and seat cover in order to hold them in an upright or open position and which fabric is anchored to the top of the toilet tank by a block of weighted material such as wood, ceramic or metal having a non-skid surface on its underside. The weighted block may also use hook and loop material, suction cups or other like mechanisms to anchor the block to the surface of the toilet tank.

An object of the present invention is to retain the seat and cover of a toilet in an upright position so that a user does not have to hold the seat and cover while the user is using the toilet. A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple means for holding the toilet seat and cover in an upright position. A further object of the present invention is to avoid a spill which may occur at the toilet seat if the user has to maintain or hold the toilet seat and cover in an upright position while the toilet is being used.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more filly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.

10 present invention

12 top of tank

14 toilet tank

16 toilet

18 toilet seat

20 weighted block

22 non-skid bottom surface

24 weighted fabric pocket

26 front side of block

28 apex of toilet ring

30 weighted pocket

32 toilet seat cover

34 fuzzy decorative fabric cover

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is the present invention 10 disposed on the top 12 of the tank 14 of the toilet 16. Shown is the seat 18 and cover 32 of the toilet in an upright or near vertical position. Also shown is the weighted block, article, decorative article or figurine 20 having various shapes of the present invention 10 which may comprise wood, ceramic or metal having a non-skid surface 22 on its bottom side which forms a non-skid surface between the block 20 and the top 12 of the toilet tank 14 which prevents the weighted block 20 from moving on the top 12. Also shown is a weighted fabric pocket 24 having one end attached to the front side 26 of block 20 and having a second end folded over the apex 28 of the toilet seat 18 and cover 32 having a weighted means placed inside a pocket 30 disposed in the second end of the fabric pocket 24. The elevation of the first end of the fabric pocket 24 could also varied by using a series of attachment points to block 20. Block 20 may be attached to the top 12 using hook and loop material, suction cups or other like devices. The elevation of the block 20 may be adjusted in a vertical direction by installing additional blocks on top or underneath block 20. Note that the weighted fabric pocket 24 is folded over the apex 28 of the toilet seat 18 so that the weighted pocket 30 folds over and downward along the underside of the toilet seat 18 to prevent the seat 18 from closing inadvertently.

Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is a fuzzy decorative fabric cover 34 which is frequently placed on the toilet cover 32 and tank 14 of the toilet 16 which fuzzy decorative cover 34 frequently prevents the toilet seat 18 from remaining in an upright position. The fabric cover 34 is usually thick and may also have a tank 14 cover portion associated therewith which further prevents the seat 18 from maintaining itself in an upright position. Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. Note that the block 20 could have an attachment containing a jewelry or tissue box, or may take the shape of an animal resting, lying on his stomach, or with tongue hanging out of its mouth wherein the tongue could be the weighted pocket 24 as could be the tail, leg or foot, or other animal body part.

Claims

1. A device for retaining a lid or seat of a toilet in an open or upright position, the device comprising a flexible plenum for resting upon the top of the toilet tank, the plenum having a mass contained within for retaining the plenum on the tank, whereby the front of the plenum is draped over the apex of the lid or seat when the lid or seat is in an upright position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plenum includes a bottom surface made from a material providing a frictional force to keep the device on top of the tank.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the plenum has a suction cup that engages the top of the tank.

4. A method for retaining a toilet lid in an upright position, the method comprising:

providing a weighted material;

placing the material upon the toilet tank, the material draping over the front of the tank;

whereby the material drapes over the apex of the lid, when the lid is placed in an upright position.