Hinges Patents (Class 4/236)
-
Patent number: 12082753Abstract: A quick-release and quick-installation hinge assembly includes a hinge to which a toilet lid is rotatably connected, a key plate fixed on a toilet bowl, and a limiting member. The hinge is fixedly provided with a hinge base fitted with the key plate. The hinge base and the key plate are in insertion fit in a lateral direction. The limiting member is provided with an inserting portion. The key plate is provided with an inserting hole that is in insertion fit with the inserting portion for position limitation. The inserting portion is fitted with the inserting hole for position limitation to prevent the hinge base and the key plate from being separated from each other in the lateral direction. The inserting portion penetrates through the inserting hole. The quick-release and quick-installation hinge assembly realizes a stable convenient connection structure between the hinge base of the hinge and the key plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: XIAMEN R&T PLUMBING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Weiming Yan, Weiquan Xie
-
Patent number: 12053128Abstract: A toilet seat mounting assembly that includes a hinge mount on an upper surface of a portion of a pedestal, the hinge mount having a body with a bore; an anchor underneath a lower surface of the portion; a fastener extending through the bore and operatively coupled to the anchor to clamp the portion between the hinge mount and the anchor; a hinge base having a mount supported by the upper surface, the mount having an outer wall, which defines an opening that receives the body, and a locking feature flexibly coupled to the outer wall; and a lock cap rotatably coupled to the mount and having a wall. The wall retains the locking feature into a locking engagement with the hinge mount in a locking position of the lock cap, and the mount is removable from the hinge mount in a non-locking position of the lock cap.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventor: Jeffrey T. Laundre
-
Patent number: 11992163Abstract: A toilet seat elevator assembly including a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat that is placed on top of a toilet seat. The seat assembly is capable of being adjusted in height by adding a preferred amount of seat inserts between the toilet seat and the seat. The seat inserts have a toilet seat shape. The toilet seat elevator assembly further includes backup assembly, wherein is perpendicularly attached to an edge of the seat. The backup assembly is hollow, wherein the backup assembly can be clamped to the seat cover when it is in a vertical position allowing to secure the toilet seat elevator assembly to the toilet.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Inventors: Corey Newman, Greg Jones
-
Patent number: 11976452Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for discharging a liquid containing at least one active substance into a toilet bowl coverable by a lid, the apparatus having a container receiving the liquid, which container is fixed in the toilet lid and is operatively connected to a discharging apparatus pointing into the toilet bowl such that the liquid is discharged into the toilet bowl via the discharging apparatus by pressure in the container. The object of the invention is to spray the liquid containing at least one active substance into a closed chamber in order to deploy an optimal operating force by means of a temporally dense sequence between application of the liquid and use of the toilet. This task is solved in that the toilet lid (7) has a passage opening (8) in which the container (9) is fixed such that, in relation to the installation position thereof, the top side (10, 24) thereof is accessible from the outside for manually exerting pressure, thus triggering a liquid discharge.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Inventor: Michael Hertrampf
-
Patent number: 11913212Abstract: A bidet folding structure, including a fixed plate and a mounting seat which are separately formed; the fixed plate and the mounting seat are rotatably connected through a rotating shaft perpendicular to the fixed plate, allowing the mounting seat to fold into a state parallel to the fixed plate. The fixed plate and the mounting seat are structurally separated, and the two are rotatably fitted through the rotating shaft. This enables the folding of the mounting seat, so that the mounting seat can be folded to position below the fixed plate at a 0° state.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Inventor: Liye Lin
-
Patent number: 11702875Abstract: A bifold door includes a first hinge and a second hinge configured to rotatably couple the bifold door to a doorframe. The bifold door includes a slider configured to slide within a track of the doorframe as the bifold door is opened and closed. At least one of the first hinge, the second hinge, and the slider includes a spherical bearing and a pin.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Jordan R. Brunner, Nicholas J. Lewis, Erik Nilsen
-
Patent number: 11179013Abstract: The fluid damper device (10) has the rotor (30) which is inserted to the bottomed cylindrical case (20) and the cover (60) which is fixed to the opening portion (29) of the case (20). The welding protrusions (80) which are to be welded to the cover (60) are formed on the inside circumferential surface of the case (20) and spaced out in the circumferential direction. On the other side (L2) in the axial (L) direction of the welding range (X), within which the welding protrusions (80) and the cover are welded together, the first outflow prevention portion (91L, 91R) is formed. On the other side (L2) of the first outflow prevention portion (91L, 91R) in the axial (L) direction, the arc-shaped step surface (76) which functions as the outflow regulation portion (95) is provided to regulate the resin protruded and prevented it from reaching the position of the R-ring (49).Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventor: Naoya Mihara
-
Patent number: 11071423Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an assembly-and-disassembly structure for a toilet cover, which comprises a cover plate assembly, two support bases, and two rotation shafts. A torsion spring is disposed between the first locking rod and the second locking rod. A first end of the torsion spring is movably connected to the first locking rod, and a second end of the torsion spring is connected to the second locking rod. The second locking rod comprises a torsion spring fixing portion. An outer end of the first locking rod comprises a first locking plate, and an inner end of the first locking rod comprises a sliding groove structure configured to receive the first end of the torsion spring to move.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Bestter (Xiamen) Technology Inc.Inventors: Binhua Gong, Rongmin Chen, Linhuang Guo
-
Patent number: 11071422Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an assembly and disassembly base. The assembly and disassembly base comprises a fixed plate set, a locking plate, and a fixing screw, the fixed plate set and the locking block are disposed with a plurality of protruding blocks, the locking plate is slidably disposed in the fixed plate set, the protruding blocks are overlapped and staggered, thereby resulting the locking and the disassembly of the locking plate and the fixed plate set to be achieved. The locking plate is connected to the toilet seat by the fixing screw.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Bestter (Xiamen) Technology Inc.Inventors: Binhua Gong, Jian Li
-
Patent number: 11064850Abstract: The disclosure discloses a toilet seat assembly installation structure convenient for disassembly and assembly, which comprises fixing members fixedly installed on a toilet seat; a hinge base including hinge portions and installation portions, the hinge portions hinging with a cover plate, the installation portions engaging with the fixing members; and snap-in connection members configured to detachably and position-limitedly installed on the installation portions along a vertical direction so that the snap-in connection members are fixedly engaged with the fixing members, or to detachably and position-limitedly installed on the fixing members along the vertical direction so that the snap-in connection members are fixedly engaged with the installation portions. The toilet seat assembly installation structure is easy to operate, can be dissembled and assembled by inserting/removing the hinge base into/from the fixing members, and is stable and reliable.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: XIAMEN R&T PLUMBING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTDInventors: Jiebin Wu, Xiaomeng Lin, Weiquan Xie
-
Patent number: 10881255Abstract: The invention therefore relates to a cushioned coupling hinge 1 suitable to rotatably couple the seat-ring 71 and the lid 72 of a toilet seat to a toilet 70. The hinge 1 comprises a cushioning mechanism suitable to cushion the falling movement of the mobile component during rotation around the axis of rotation X; a mobile portion 20 integrally constrainable to the seat-ring or lid in rotation; a fixed portion 30 integrally constrainable with the toilet 70. Advantageously, both the maintenance in position of the hinge along the axis of rotation and the actuation of the cushioning mechanism is obtained by means of a single engagement element 4 inserted at right angles to the axis of rotation simultaneously through the seat-ring/lid to be cushioned and the mobile portion 20.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: COMINOTTI S.R.L.Inventors: Michele Cominotti, Arduino Antonio Donati
-
Patent number: 10863877Abstract: According to one embodiment, a toilet lid device includes a casing, a toilet seat and a toilet lid rotatably supported with respect to the casing, and a first support portion and a second support portion rotatably supporting the toilet lid with respect to the casing. The casing is provided between left and right side surfaces of the casing. The casing includes first and second grooves. The first and second grooves are not exposed on the left and right side surfaces. The toilet lid includes first and second hinge portions. The first hinge portion is connected to the first support portion in the first groove, and the second hinge portion is connected to the second support portion in the second groove. Each of the left and right side surfaces of the casing does not include a step backward a rear end of the toilet seat.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Mochita, Yukari Kawazu, Megumi Hirayama, Minoru Matsui
-
Patent number: 10820760Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for a toilet bowl comprising: a rotary flange formed at a rear portion; a cover member rotatably coupled to the rotary flange; a toilet seat to which the cover member is coupled; a rotary support panel coupled to the toilet bowl and having a spherical rotary guide groove formed therein; a rotary member coupled to the rotary support panel so as to rotate and connecting the cover member and the toilet seat to the toilet bowl; a rotary assembly provided at the rear of the toilet seat and connected to an end of the rotary member to rotate the rotary member when the positions of the toilet seat and the cover member have been changed; and a water flushing device for operating a water flushing means by using a rotational force.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Inventor: Bong Soo Koo
-
Patent number: 10786281Abstract: A plate assembly for attaching a bone flap to a skull is provided and may include a first plate member attached to the bone flap and a second plate member supported by the first plate member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the first plate member. The second plate member may be removed from a cut line between the bone flap and the skull in the retracted position and may extend over the cut line in the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Saddy Garcia, Howard Chandler, Scott Sidwell, Adam Hausman, Jacob Mayworth
-
Patent number: 10758097Abstract: According to one embodiment, a toilet lid device includes a casing, and a toilet seat and a toilet lid rotatably supported with respect to the casing. A lower surface of the toilet lid covers an upper surface of the toilet seat and an upper surface of the casing in a state of the toilet lid closed. The lower surface of the toilet lid has a first lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the toilet seat and a second lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Mochita, Yukari Kawazu, Megumi Hirayama
-
Patent number: 10647505Abstract: A device for use on or with bins for the purpose of returning a bin lid to a closed position and/or to retain a bin lid in a closed position. The device includes a lid engaging portion, a bin engaging portion and an intermediate portion between the lid engaging and bin engaging portions. The intermediate portion is arranged, in use, around, within and/or adjacent to a handle of the bin. The bin engaging portion extends outwardly from the intermediate portion. The lid engaging portion extends outwardly from the intermediate portion. The lid engaging portion is movable between a first (lid is closed) and a second (lid is at least partially open) position. The intermediate portion provides resistance to the lid as the lid engaging portion is moved from the first position towards the second position causing the lid engaging portion to bias the lid towards a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: SHERRARD PTY LTDInventor: Janelle Faye Sherrard
-
Patent number: 10561285Abstract: A quick detachable toilet cover includes a hollow casing which is arranged at the rear end of a cover assembly as well as adaptor mechanisms and damping mechanisms which are axially and serially arranged in the hollow casing, in which the adaptor mechanisms are matched with support poles on a toilet seat body, and the damping mechanisms are connected between the cover assembly and the hollow casing; the damping mechanisms are also sheathed with positioning sleeves, the damping mechanisms are located at and co-operated with the positioning sleeves along a circumferential direction, and the positioning sleeves are positioned and matched with the hollow casing along a circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: TAIZHOU ZHONGYI SANITARY WARE CO., LTD.Inventor: Huiming Yang
-
Patent number: 10465366Abstract: A cleaning system for a sanitary fixture (e.g., toilet) can include a cleanser assembly, housing a compartment formed in the deck of the fixture in fluid communication with a waterway leading to the bowl. The cleanser assembly can receive a cartridge containing a cleaning product for insertion into the compartment and introduction into the waterway. The assembly can support the seat and cover of the fixture, and can have a low profile and curved shape that complements the corresponding shape of the seat and cover, and provides a balanced look that makes the assembly appear to be an integral part of the sanitary fixture.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: AS AMERICA, INC.Inventors: David Grover, Daigo Ishiyama, Timothy J. Payne, Mark Kurth, Scott Rote, Phil Anthony, Aaron B. Eiger, Chris Helmstetter, Christophe Bucher, Ki Bok Song, Jean-Jacques L'Henaff
-
Patent number: 10463209Abstract: A toilet seat hinge that includes a hinge base mountable to a toilet and including a body having a bore; a hinge pin having a first portion disposed in the bore and a second portion that extends outside of the bore, where the hinge pin is rotatable relative to the body; a damper; and a clip. The damper includes a sleeve rotatably mounted on the first portion and an arm extending radially outward from the sleeve. The clip is disposed in the bore between the body and the damper, and the damper is rotatable relative to the clip such that in a first relative position, the arm is compressed a first amount by the clip to provide a first damping force, and in a second relative position, the arm is compressed a second amount, which is greater than the first amount, by the clip to provide a second damping force.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventor: Jeffrey T. Laundre
-
Patent number: 10448790Abstract: A toilet seat cushion with an adjustable installation length comprises a toilet seat cushion body and an installation length adjustment structure; the installation length adjustment structure is disposed at the rear end of the toilet seat cushion body; the installation length adjustment structure comprises a connecting member and a fixing member; the connecting member is movably connected to the rear end of the toilet seat cushion body; the fixing member comprises two side plates and a positioning plate; the two side plates perpendicularly extend forwards from two ends of the positioning plate respectively; each side plate is provided with an installation hole used for installing the toilet seat cushion body; the positioning plate is detachably positioned onto the connecting member; in this way, the center of each installation hole has a first position and a second position, and the center of each installation hole switches between the first position and the second position with the cooperation of the positioType: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Finehope (Xiamen) New Material Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Fangkui Xie
-
Patent number: 10285547Abstract: A toilet seat includes a main body; a cover assembly detachably connected to the main body and rotatable with respect to the main body; a connecting mechanism arranged between the main body and the cover assembly and detachably connecting the cover assembly to the main body, and the connecting mechanism includes a bushing arranged in the main body, the bushing and the main body form an engagement slot, and a rotating shaft extendable and retractable with respect to the cover assembly, an end of the rotating shaft is provided with an engagement portion, and in a case that the rotating shaft extends out with respect to the cover assembly, the engagement portion is in engagement with the engagement slot to fix the cover assembly to the main body.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: XIAMEN AXENT CORPORATION LIMITEDInventors: Lianjin Chen, Zijie Cai
-
Patent number: 9863132Abstract: A flush toilet apparatus includes a hole wherein a tubular member is connected to a connecting portion disposed on the outside of a flush toilet apparatus through a hole portion formed at the rear top surface of a flush toilet main body, and the hole portion comprises a hole penetrating the entire wall thickness of the flush toilet main body; and an guiding path disposed adjacent to the hole, for guiding the tubular member to the hole; wherein at least a portion of the hole of the hole portion is covered by an affixing member, and the tubular member is inserted into the hole through the gap formed between the affixing member and the guiding path.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Masateru Shiraishi, Mitsuo Koga, Satoshi Yamazaki, Kohei Tsuji
-
Patent number: 9854950Abstract: A quick release toilet seat fastener for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet bowl. The quick release toilet seat fastener includes a fastener body having a fastener shaft and a plurality of ribs, wherein each of the plurality of ribs is connected to and positioned along the fastener shaft. Each of the plurality of ribs is flexible, having a inner curved surface and an outer curved surface that converge along a distal edge and delineate a horizontal cross section in conjunction with the fastener shaft. The fastener body is secured to a hinge base, wherein a flange head of the fastener body is positioned flush against the surface of the hinge base. A rib gap is positioned in between the plurality of ribs and the flange head, providing a region of empty space to allow for the full flexibility of each of the plurality of ribs.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Inventor: Charles Richard Timothy
-
Patent number: 9801508Abstract: A hidden hinge system for raising and lowering a toilet seat or toilet lid is disclosed. In one embodiment, each hinge includes a curved support with a smooth, easy to clean surface. The curved support is connected to a lever and the lever is connected to a hinge assembly. We disclose embodiments in which both the lever and the hinge assembly are enclosed within a toilet housing to improve cleanliness. We further disclose embodiments in which the curved supports are hollow and which contain electrical wiring, water, and gases. Controller and proximity sensors which modulate the raising and lowering of the toilet seat and toilet lid are also disclosed and claimed herein.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Inventors: David R. Hall, Dan Allen, Jared Reynolds, Joshua Larsen, Terrece Pearman
-
Patent number: 9732507Abstract: A wall hung toilet is described which has a toilet body having a toilet body inlet, a back plate having at least a first and a second lower fastener opening therethrough, a toilet body outlet, a bowl and a base. The bowl has an interior surface defining a interior area for receiving fluid, an inlet for introducing fluid to the interior area of the bowl and a bowl outlet. A trapway for passing fluid from the bowl outlet to the toilet body outlet is also included. The base of the toilet body extends from a front bowl portion of the base to a rear portion of the base that contacts the back plate, and the base is configured so as to distribute load bearing forces when applied to the bowl in use towards each of a first area around the first fastener opening and a second area around the second fastener area.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: AS IP HOLDCO, LLCInventors: Christophe Bucher, David Grover
-
Patent number: 9714501Abstract: A plumbing fixture at least having a first housing section and a second housing section which are arranged movable to one another, whereby the first housing section together with the second housing section forms an electrical sensor. In particular, an electrically conductive and simultaneously sealing coupling component is provided between the housing sections, whereby further an electrically conductive coupling component is provided between the first housing section and the second housing section and the coupling component comprises an electrically conductive plastic.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Grohe AGInventors: Hans Dieter Keiter, Achim Mielke, Frank-Thomas Luig, Gunter Gaebel
-
Patent number: 9661962Abstract: A toilet cover and an implementation method thereof includes a toilet seat, a toilet top cover, a rotation mechanism and two supports, two supports are respectively disposed with an insert pin, each insert pin is disposed with a lock groove at the side wall of the top portion, the rotation mechanism is disposed with two radial insert holes for the insert pins to insert; wherein further comprising at least one switch component disposed at the external wall of the two supports, a lock element and an elastic element, both ends of the lock element are respectively disposed with a lock catch to lock to the lock groove of the insert pin or release the lock, the switch component drives the lock element to move so as to release the lock; the lock element is repositioned by the elastic element.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Inventor: Feiyu Li
-
Patent number: 9635987Abstract: A hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the hinge assembly comprising a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl, a bolt connectable to the hinge post for securing the hinge post to the toilet bowl, the bolt being configured to extend through an opening in the toilet bowl, and a nut threadable onto the bolt to secure the hinge post to the toilet bowl, the nut having a first segment threadable onto the bolt, a second segment and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments, the shear segment having a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Joseph Hand, John Seaman
-
Patent number: 9538888Abstract: A toilet seat cover with an easily assembled and detached child seat includes an upper lid, a parent seat and a child seat. Two fixing shafts are respectively sleeved on two parent shaft sleeves. Two pins of two supports and the two fixing shafts are radially held with each other. Each of the two fixing shafts is axially inserted by a cylindrical shaft post. Two elastic c-shaped rings are respectively disposed at two ends of a child shaft sleeve and radially sleeved on the shaft post. At least one end of the child shaft sleeve disposes a central shaft which is radially inserted into a directional slot. When the child seat is not needed, the shaft post can be removed from the fixing shaft to attain a toilet seat cover with a common appearance.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: HOTI (XIAMEN) PLUMBING INC.Inventors: Guobin Chen, Feng Guo
-
Patent number: 9439542Abstract: A vertical assembling and disassembling mechanism for a toilet seat includes a support, a fixing axle, and a turning member. A pin of the support can be inserted into or pulled out a radial pin hole of the fixing axle. The fixing axle includes a damper therein to connect with the turning member. The fixing axle is formed with a lock hole to receive a lock plate biased by a spring. A turning ring is provided to cooperate with the lock plate. The inner end of the lock plate is engaged with the pin. The inner wall of the turning ring is formed with an inverted step recess. When the turning ring is turned about 90±3 degrees, the outer end of the lock plate is engaged in the inverted step recess and the inner end of the lock plate is disengaged from an annular groove of the pin.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: HOTI (XIAMEN) PLUMBING INC.Inventor: Guobin Chen
-
Patent number: 9289103Abstract: A toilet seat hinge assembly and method of installing the assembly are described, wherein the assembly includes a hinge body having a seat and a central opening extending longitudinally through the body; a fastening hinge post having a head, a longitudinally extending body and at least one locking pin; a bushing having an upper flange portion and a longitudinally extending body defining a longitudinally extending channel therethrough, which body further has at least one transversely extending groove in or on the bushing body; and at least one fastening device for securing the hinge assembly to a toilet. The at least one locking pin locks the assembly by rotation of the fastening hinge post body within the channel in the bushing body.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: AS IP Holdco, LLCInventor: Robert M. Jensen
-
Patent number: 9249611Abstract: In a rotary damper 1 including a cam surface 3f formed in a lower end surface of a large-diameter portion 3b of a rotor 3 and including a cam surface 4f formed in an upper end surface of a piston 4, the cam surface 4f being capable of contacting the cam surface 3f, the cam surfaces 3f, 4f pressed to contact each other by a coil spring 9 biasing the piston 4, the piston 4 is prohibited from being moved toward the large-diameter portion 3b beyond a predetermined second position. Coil spring 9 does not rotationally bias the piston 4. The coil spring 9 biases the piston 4 only such that the piston 4 approaches the large-diameter portion 3b.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: SUGATSUNE KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventor: Masaki Ogawa
-
Patent number: 9107547Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Joseph Hand, Brian L. Le Mahieu, Brian A. Henne, Randall Grebel
-
Publication number: 20150059072Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a hinge for use in a mobile toilet having a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a toilet lid, wherein the toilet seat and the toilet lid each are swivel-mounted to the toilet bowl by the hinge and have a common pivot axis. Furthermore, the present embodiments relate to a damping device for retrofitting a hinge. The present embodiments also relate to a mobile toilet. In particular, the present embodiments relate to the problem to allow an easy retrofitting of a hinge and mobile toilets, respectively. This problem is in particular solved with the initially described hinge that in accordance with the present embodiments has at least one receiving area that is formed to receive at least one damping device for damping the swivel motion of the toilet seat or the toilet lid about the pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Tim Jochim, Jens Oxenfarth
-
Patent number: 8959672Abstract: A toilet seat hinge includes a lock feature to releasably attach the hinge to a bolt head fastened to a toilet bowl. The hinge includes a hinge base, a key plate, and a grip. The hinge base includes a mounting structure to which a toilet seat can be pivotally mounted, as well as an aperture in a bottom surface thereof through which the bolt head can pass. The key plate includes a keyway having a large end that can be aligned with the aperture for insertion of the bolt head and can be slid into a locking position where the small end is aligned with the aperture to retain the bolt head within the hinge base. The user-movable grip includes a guide which travels in an L-shaped slot to restrain movement of the grip to an L-shape (two-movement) for moving the keyway into and out of locking position.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Centoco Plastics LimitedInventors: Garnet Dundas, Saverio Paonessa
-
Patent number: 8910320Abstract: The present invention is an automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet. The invention includes switch automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via a switch, and manual-urging automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via manual urging by a user. An automated attachment assembly may be configured to provide both switch and manual-urging automation concomitantly based upon predetermined logic. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of identifying manual movement and of assisting the movement of a bowl attachment. The invention further includes an object sensor incorporated within the seat or lid to detect the presence or absence of an object near the bowl attachment.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Joseph L. Stauber, Erich C. Vierkant, III, Brian M. Kaule
-
Publication number: 20140250578Abstract: Various disclosed systems relate to fixtures, such as toilets, that include a lighting mechanism for illuminating portions of the fixture. One embodiment relates to a toilet. The seat assembly of the toilet includes a hinge assembly having a hinge housing and a lighting mechanism. The lighting mechanism is at least partially encapsulated by the hinge housing. The lighting mechanism including a first light source and a power source. The seat assembly further includes a lid pivotally connected to the hinge assembly. The seat assembly includes a ring pivotally connected to the hinge assembly. The lighting mechanism is configured to direct light at the tank and to direct light into the bowl such that light is reflected off of the tank and off of an interior of the bowl.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Roger W. Murphy, Michael Luettgen, Gary Clarke, Joseph L. Stauber
-
Publication number: 20140215700Abstract: A toilet seat hinge assembly and method of installing the assembly are described, wherein the assembly includes a hinge body having a seat and a central opening extending longitudinally through the body; a fastening hinge post having a head, a longitudinally extending body and at least one locking pin; a bushing having an upper flange portion and a longitudinally extending body defining a longitudinally extending channel therethrough, which body further has at least one transversely extending groove in or on the bushing body; and at least one fastening device for securing the hinge assembly to a toilet. The at least one locking pin locks the assembly by rotation of the fastening hinge post body within the channel in the bushing body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: AS IP Holdco, LLCInventor: Robert M. Jensen
-
Patent number: 8763168Abstract: A device for affixing a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a fixing component having a through-hole and removably coupling to a fixing member, a hinge base receiving the fixing component, a hinge cover, the hinge cover being rotatable when covering a portion of the hinge base and having a locked position, and a rib on an internal surface of the hinge cover, the rib including an inward projection for engaging an indentation of the fixing component when the hinge cover is in a locked position. The hinge cover of another device can slide onto the hinge base into a locked position. The device can quickly install the toilet seat and provide quick release of the toilet seat.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Zhongshan Meitu Plastic Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wenhui Zhou
-
Publication number: 20140157500Abstract: A toilet seat hinge includes a lock feature to releasably attach the hinge to a bolt head fastened to a toilet bowl. The hinge includes a hinge base, a key plate, and a grip. The hinge base includes a mounting structure to which a toilet seat can be pivotally mounted, as well as an aperture in a bottom surface thereof through which the bolt head can pass. The key plate includes a keyway having a large end that can be aligned with the aperture for insertion of the bolt head and can be slid into a locking position where the small end is aligned with the aperture to retain the bolt head within the hinge base. The user-movable grip includes a guide which travels in an L-shaped slot to restrain movement of the grip to an L-shape (two-movement) for moving the keyway into and out of locking position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventors: Garnet Dundas, Saverio Paonessa
-
Patent number: 8671468Abstract: A hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the hinge assembly comprising a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl, and a bolt embedded in the hinge post and configured to extend through an opening in the toilet bowl, the bolt having thereon a plurality of projections extending into the hinge post to distribute to the hinge post forces applied to the bolt.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Joseph Hand, John Seaman
-
Patent number: 8668063Abstract: A damping shaft mechanism has a spiral shaft, spiral guide bush, a shell and blade. An external spiral structure is arranged at one end of the spiral shaft, and its core has a cone segment. An internal spiral structure is arranged in the spiral guide bush, which cooperates rotationally with the external spiral structure so that it can move along the axis relative to the spiral shaft when the spiral shaft is rotating. The two cavities change size by moving the spiral guide bush driven by the spiral shaft in the shell, and the taper on the spiral shaft makes the fit clearance between the spiral shaft and the spiral guide bush changed from maximum to minimum gradually in the damping process, so that the oil-flowing section between the two cavities changes from big to small.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Inventors: XiangJi Wang, WenCheng Chen
-
Patent number: 8656522Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 25, 2009Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
-
Patent number: 8631521Abstract: A toilet seat hinge and a toilet seat assembly including the toilet seat hinge are disclosed. The disclosed toilet seat hinge can be configured to reduce or eliminate gaps, edges, sharp corners, and/or exposed surfaces found in and around conventional toilet seat hinges. This can be done, for example, without compromising simplicity or manufacturability. Several features of the disclosed toilet seat assembly make it easier to clean than conventional toilet seat assemblies. The seat and lid, for example, can be attached to rotatable elements that are cradled in a base and rotate on substantially the same axis. The profile of the hinge can be streamlined with numerous concave surfaces. Portions of the seat and lid that are not connected to one of the rotatable elements can, for example, slide against other elements so as not to create gaps or sharp corners.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2010Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Inventor: Theodore W. Baker
-
Patent number: 8631520Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Brian A. Henne
-
Publication number: 20130333104Abstract: A quick assembly and disassembly mechanism with a button lock for a toilet cover has a straight tube pivot joint, two stands and two pivot shafts. Each pivot shaft is disposed with pin holes in the radial direction. A lock bar disposed between the pivot shafts can slide side to side. The straight tube is disposed with an operation mechanism to drive the lock bar to slide. A spring is disposed inside the straight tube to reposition the lock bar. The lock bar is disposed with a lock catch and a lock piece with lock hole. The lock catch has an elastic body and a lock piece to limit the sliding of the lock bar and a pivot shaft, which is plugged to the end of the lock bar in sliding way. The lock piece in the end of the lock bar is disposed with a lock hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: XIAMEN R&T PLUMBING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Diyi HONG, Weiquan XIE, Bing WANG
-
Patent number: 8555427Abstract: The present invention is an automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet. The invention includes switch automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via a switch, and manual-urging automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via manual urging by a user. An automated attachment assembly may be configured to provide both switch and manual-urging automation concomitantly based upon predetermined logic. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of identifying manual movement and of assisting the movement of a bowl attachment. The invention further includes an object sensor incorporated within the seat or lid to detect the presence or absence of an object near the bowl attachment.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Joseph L. Stauber, Erich C. Vierkant, Brian M. Kaule
-
Publication number: 20130254981Abstract: A toilet set can be removably attached to a toilet fixture using a system having an attachment body and a post with laterally mateable portions. The post has a rod portion extendable through a mounting hole of the toilet fixture and a post engagement portion. The attachment body has a pivot portion, a movable closure, and a receiving opening. The post engagement portion is defined by radially oriented features, such as disc or ring-shaped portions of different diameters. A portion of the periphery of the receiving opening has features with contours inversely shaped with respect to the features of the post engagement portion so that the attachment body engagement portion is laterally mateable with the post engagement portion. The closure is movable between a closed position preventing disengagement of the attachment body and the post and an open position enabling disengagement of the attachment body from the post.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Nelson, Edward Scott Seccuro, Andrew L. Solinski
-
Publication number: 20130117919Abstract: A toilet cover connecting mechanism has two supports, support shafts, and an independent hinge tube. Dampers and pivot mechanisms are fixed on both ends of the hinge tube. The damper on the open end of the hinge tube can be inserted into a shaft hole of the cover. An insertion hole is disposed radially on the pivot mechanism. A through hole for the support shaft is disposed in the hinge tube. The support shaft is inserted into the pivot mechanism. A keying mechanism is mounted in the middle of the hinge tube. A key panel is fastened to an arrow-shaped push block. An urging rod having a chamfer on the top is disposed on two sides of the push block. The push block may press against the chamfers to push distal ends of the two urging rods to displace toward two sides thereof to press against the pivot mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventors: Dong Peng, Xingyi Yu
-
Publication number: 20130117918Abstract: In public restrooms, many people do not lift a toilet seat after use; the following man may just urinate without lifting the seat too. So the toilet seat is polluted. There are many devices try to automatically keep toilet seat upright, but they are too complicated or too expensive, so those devices are not easy to implement. We seldom see auto-lifting toilet seat in public restrooms. This device is very simple, but it is easy to implement and really solve the problem. It can keep the toilet seat clean. The device uses one or two torsion springs in a regular toilet to keep the toilet seat and toilet cover upright.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventor: Jinghua Tian