Four Bar Link Patents (Class 4/246.4)
  • Patent number: 11224317
    Abstract: A toilet seat lifting handle includes a first tubular structure secured about the hinge assembly of a traditionally configured toilet seat. A second tubular structure handle protrudes at a right angle at a first end of the first tubular structure thereby lifting or lowering the toilet seat lid when actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventor: Hugo Rosas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10226155
    Abstract: A toilet seat and lid lifting and flushing device for connecting to a toilet. The toilet seat and lid lifting device includes a pedal operatively connected with a pivotal lid lever and a pivotal seat lever. A flush assembly includes a cable operatively connected to the pedal, a flush arm operatively connected to the cable, and a flush base receiving the flush arm. The seat lever is pivoted in a first direction upon application of a downward force to the pedal. The seat lever and the lid lever are pivoted in a second direction upon application of an upward force to the pedal. Application of an upward force to the pedal causes downward movement of the flush arm to initiate a flush cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Helfrich
  • Patent number: 10053848
    Abstract: Provided is an adjustment unit of an unpowered automatic water flushing toilet bowl seat having a function of controlling air discharge and intake only by body weight, which can adjust a water flushing time when excrement is cleaned while interworking with a rising operation of a toilet bowl seat moved by weight of a toilet user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Dong Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9963864
    Abstract: Provided is a powerless automatic flushing toilet seat for a water tank having air exhaust and intake control functions only through human body weight and a powerless automatic flushing toilet seat for a water tank that can automatically control an opening/closing operation of a siphon cover through intake and exhaust of air in conjunction with an elevating operation of a human body detection unit for detecting the weight of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BESTAUTO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8479323
    Abstract: A mounting mechanism for toilet seats is provided which includes an easy accessible pull handle, connected to a mechanism associated with the seat that holds the seat in a vertical rest position. The handle is the only part that needs to be maneuvered by the toilet user when the user desires that the seat be in horizontal position. After using the seat in such horizontal position, the provided mechanism automatically moves the seat back up into the vertical rest position. This mechanism eliminates handling of potentially unsanitary toilet seats with hands. Thus, the handle is the only part which the person using the toilet is touching. Since the handle is positioned away from the seat and outside of the area where typically splashing occurs, an utmost sanitary and hygienic state is accomplished by the current invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Jonathan Blum
  • Patent number: 8402571
    Abstract: A handle mechanism for lifting a toilet seat and its cover. The handle mechanism is affixed to the toilet seat cover, and selectively engages the toilet seat to lift the cover and the seat individually or together. Because the handle mechanism is affixed to the front of the cover, when the toilet is being used, with the seat up or down, the handle mechanism is well away from the toilet, such that the handle mechanism remains clean and sanitary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Pagett
  • Patent number: 8286273
    Abstract: The toilet foot flushing apparatus quickly converts a hand-flushed toilet to a foot-flushed toilet, without the need of tools. The included lever of the apparatus replaces the existing toilet lever, by hand. The pedal is about 1 foot in length, thereby providing sufficient leverage to the lever via the cable. The lever is attached to flush mechanism on the exterior of an existing toilet reservoir. The spring-loaded pedal returns to a position slightly above the base when released, thereby releasing lever pressure. The geared pedal to base action provides sturdy long-lived flush function. The apparatus does not require any form of floor invasion, as the base need not be mounted to the floor. The cable retainer provides length adjustment for the cable so that a plurality of toilet reservoirs and flush mechanisms can be successfully converted to foot flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Cory M. Toomer
  • Patent number: 8230529
    Abstract: The toilet seat lifting apparatus lifts a toilet seat with a user's foot. The apparatus is omnidirectional, so it can be easily reversed to operate on either side of a toilet. Almost any toilet is fitted, without modification. The base does not require mounting but instead is rested upon a surface adjacent to a toilet. The semicircular base importantly covers the pivot pedestal and the pivotally attached lever, so that splash is not a concern, yet the removable side cover allows maintenance, such as lubrication. As the hinge rod and seat arm are of relatively small diameter, and as both are adjacent to the back of the seat, less obtrusive appearance is a benefit, as is avoidance of urine stream incursion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Michael D. Reid
  • Patent number: 7861328
    Abstract: A toilet seat tilting device includes a base, a seat tilting device that lifts or lowers a seat and a seat cover tilting device that lifts or lowers the seat cover. First and second pedals are used to operate link mechanisms. When the first pedal is pressed, the parts of the seat tilting device are rotated clockwise so that the seat is lifted. When the second pedal is pressed, the parts are rotated counterclockwise so that the seat is lowered. The seat cover is lowered when the second pedal is further pressed. The height of the tilting devices is adjustable and they are provided in left-handed and right-handed structures to be adapted various toilets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Young Han Joo, Susie Rana Joo, Jung Chan Joo
  • Publication number: 20100223719
    Abstract: A simplified apparatus for allowing hands-free raising and lowering of a toilet seat. In a preferred embodiment, the toilet seat actuating apparatus includes a ā€˜U’ shaped foot operated level which when depressed by a user, pivots about a fulcrum and raises the toilet seat via left and right linkages. The fulcrum is formed by a bracket assembly that mounts in between the porcelain throne and the seat. The apparatus is devoid of actuators, dampers, and other cumbersome or costly components that are employed on the toilet seat operating devices of prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: JOHN P. HURT
  • Patent number: 7316037
    Abstract: The seat lifter is for lifting a toilet seat. The seat lifter includes a foot pedal, cables, pulleys, a base, spring hinge, lifting arm, cable blocks, and a counter weight. The hinge holds the base down on to the toilet with its mounting hardware. The whole mechanism is held to the toilet by the toilet seat mounting holes in the toilet bowl. The seat is always in the down position until the foot pedal is depressed. Once the foot pedal is depressed a cable is pulled against the cable block then a small diameter pulley is rotated on a shaft that is pinned to a larger diameter pulley (this pulley assembly is called a reduction spool because it takes a small movement of the foot pedal to make a large enough movement to raise the seat to the proper height). The larger pulley then pulls a longer cable, that pulls a cable block mounted to a lifting arm with a counter weight, which pulls the arm down, that in turn moves a spring hinge attached to the seat. The seat is now in the lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Jerry Lee Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7051383
    Abstract: A powered lift toilet seat including a toilet seat for sitting on, a back support for supporting a back of a person sitting on the toilet seat, and an actuator connected to the toilet seat and the back support by a linkage device for raising and tilting the toilet seat and for moving the back support outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Ohad Paz
  • Patent number: 6807687
    Abstract: The self-supportive toilet seat and cover system for lifting and placing a toilet seat and cover on an open end of a toilet bowl includes a hinge attached to one end of the toilet bowl opening which also attaches to an end of the toilet seat and toilet cover. The system also includes primary seat and cover levers located on one side of the toilet bowl which are coupled to a fulcrum located below the toilet bowl. The primary levers are also coupled to respective secondary seat and cover levers which are in turn coupled to respective seat and cover collars attached to the ends of the hinge assembly pertaining to the rotational movement of the seat and cover, respectively. Downward pivotal movement of the primary levers causes the toilet cover and seat to swing from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Leonardo Salvador Marras
  • Patent number: 6615412
    Abstract: A no hands toilet lid and seat opening and closing mechanism designed to be disposed on a typical existing toilet having a seat and/or lid and seat. A saddle-like mounting bracket having left and right brackets is positioned on the top rear quadrant of the toilet bowl, and is clamped in place between the hinge assembly and toilet bowl. Two pivot arms support foot levers that control the lid and seat, and are pivotally coupled to the mounting brackets. A lid coiled spring and a seat coiled spring are each disposed around a pivot arm. U-shaped lid and seat brackets are adapted to be bonded to the existing toilet lid and seat, and are functionally connected to the lid and seat pedals, such that foot pressure forcing downward on a chosen pedal will raise and open the lid and/or seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen John Hammond
  • Patent number: 6588027
    Abstract: A mechanism lifts a toilet seat from a condition covering the toilet bowl to a condition in which the seat is upright with respect to a top rim of the toilet bowl. The mechanism includes a foot pedal in front of the toilet bowl. The foot pedal is connected to the toilet seat by a mechanism that includes a third class lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventors: Juanita Bowden, Walter L. Bowden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6219854
    Abstract: A toilet seat lifting apparatus for lifting a toilet seat with a user's foot. The toilet seat lifting apparatus includes a toilet and a lifting assembly. The toilet has a bowl. A toilet seat is hingedly coupled to the top edge of the top section of the bowl. A lifting assembly for lifting the toilet seat has a base portion. The base portion has a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting on a floor surface adjacent to the toilet. A platform is hingedly connecting the platform to the base portion. A first rod is elongate, having a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The middle portion is coupled to the platform. A second rod is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second rod is hingedly coupled to the second end of the first rod. The second end of the second rod is coupled to the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: John R. Milliman, Chad L. Milliman