阅读说明：本技术 升高的马桶座组件 (Elevated toilet seat assembly ) 是由 布莱恩·坡姆普伦 布赖恩·A·亨纳 乔纳森·阿恩特 帕特里克·J·雷马克斯 于 2019-09-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种升高的马桶座组件,其用于马桶并且包括构造用以联接到马桶的铰链柱和围绕轴线以可枢转方式联接到铰链柱的马桶座。马桶座由单个注塑塑料件制成。马桶座包括被构造用以支撑马桶座上的人的支撑表面和在支撑表面下方延伸的防护件。防护件构造用以在使用期间阻挡废物溅出马桶。马桶座还包括从防护件的外表面向外延伸的多个支撑件。该多个支撑件构造用以接合马桶的边沿,以将支撑表面定位在边沿上方的升高的高度处。(A raised toilet seat assembly for a toilet and including a hinge post configured to couple to the toilet and a toilet seat pivotably coupled to the hinge post about an axis. The toilet seat is made of a single injection molded plastic piece. The toilet seat includes a support surface configured to support a person on the toilet seat and a shield extending below the support surface. The shield is configured to block waste from spilling out of the toilet during use. The toilet seat further includes a plurality of supports extending outwardly from an outer surface of the guard. The plurality of supports are configured to engage a rim of the toilet to position the support surface at an elevated height above the rim.)

1. A raised toilet seat assembly for a toilet, the raised toilet seat assembly comprising:

a hinge post configured to couple to a toilet; and

a toilet seat pivotably coupled to the hinge post about an axis, the toilet seat being made of a single injection molded plastic piece, the toilet seat comprising

A support surface configured to support a person on the toilet seat,

a shield extending below the support surface, the shield being configured to block waste from spilling out of the toilet during use, and

a plurality of supports extending outwardly from an outer surface of the guard, the plurality of supports configured to position the support surface at an elevated height above a rim.

2. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the support surface has an inner top edge defining a top opening of the toilet seat, wherein the guard has an inner bottom edge defining a bottom opening of the toilet seat, and wherein the guard tapers from the inner bottom edge of the guard toward the inner top edge of the support surface.

3. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 1, wherein a first plane is configured to be perpendicular to a rim surface of a toilet and to extend through the top opening and the bottom opening when the toilet seat is in the use position, and wherein a first distance measured within the first plane between opposing points on the inner top edge of the support surface is less than a second distance measured within the first plane between opposing points on the inner bottom edge of the guard.

4. The raised toilet seat assembly of claim 3, wherein the first plane is perpendicular to the axis.

5. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 4, wherein a second plane is perpendicular to the first plane and extends through the top opening and the bottom opening when the toilet seat is in the use position, and wherein a third distance measured within the second plane between opposing points on the inner top edge of the support surface is less than a fourth distance measured within the second plane between opposing points on the inner bottom edge of the guard.

6. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supports are configured to position the guard relative to the rim of a toilet such that no portion of the guard extends into the toilet.

7. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of supports comprise a plurality of feet configured to directly engage the rim of a toilet.

8. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support handles coupled to the plurality of supports, wherein the plurality of support handles are configured to be grasped by a person to assist the person in sitting down on or standing up from the toilet seat.

9. A raised toilet seat assembly for a toilet, the raised toilet seat assembly comprising:

a toilet seat configured to be pivotably coupled to a toilet about an axis, the toilet seat comprising:

a support surface having an inner top edge defining a top opening of the toilet seat, the support surface being configured to support a person on the toilet seat, an

A guard extending below the support surface, the guard having an inner bottom edge defining a bottom opening of the toilet seat, the guard configured to block waste from spilling out of a toilet during use,

wherein the guard tapers from the inner bottom edge of the guard toward the inner top edge of the support surface.

10. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 9, wherein the toilet seat is made of a single injection molded plastic piece.

11. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 9, wherein the toilet seat includes a plurality of supports extending from the guard, wherein the plurality of supports are configured to position the support surface at an elevated height above a rim of a toilet.

12. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of supports are configured to position the guard relative to the rim of a toilet such that no portion of the guard extends into the toilet.

13. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of supports comprise a plurality of feet configured to directly engage the rim of a toilet.

14. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of support handles coupled to the plurality of supports, wherein the plurality of support handles are configured to be grasped by a person to assist the person in sitting down on or standing up from the toilet seat.

15. A raised toilet seat assembly for a toilet, the raised toilet seat assembly comprising:

a toilet seat configured to be pivotably coupled to a toilet about an axis in at least a use position in which the toilet seat engages a rim surface of the toilet, the toilet seat comprising:

a support surface having an inner top edge defining a top opening, the support surface being configured to support a person on the toilet seat, an

A guard extending below the support surface, the guard having an inner bottom edge defining a bottom opening of the toilet seat, the guard configured to block waste from spilling out of a toilet during use,

wherein the plane is configured to: the plane is perpendicular to the rim surface of the toilet and extends through the top opening and the bottom opening when the toilet seat is in the use position, and wherein a first distance measured between opposing points on the inner top edge within the plane is less than a second distance measured between opposing points on the inner bottom edge within the plane.

16. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the toilet seat is made of a single injection molded plastic piece.

17. The raised toilet seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the plane is a first plane perpendicular to the axis.

18. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 17, wherein a second plane is perpendicular to the first plane and extends through the top opening and the bottom opening when the toilet seat is in the use position, and wherein a third distance measured within the second plane between opposing points on the inner top edge of the support surface is less than a fourth distance measured within the second plane between opposing points on the inner bottom edge of the guard.

19. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the toilet seat includes a plurality of supports extending from the guard, wherein the plurality of supports are configured to position the support surface at an elevated height above the rim of the toilet, and wherein the plurality of supports are configured to position the guard relative to the rim of the toilet such that no portion of the guard extends into the toilet.

20. The elevated toilet seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the plurality of supports comprises a plurality of feet configured to directly engage the rim of a toilet.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to toilet seat assemblies and, more particularly, to a raised toilet seat assembly that helps assist a person in sitting down on and standing up from a toilet.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, a raised toilet seat assembly is for a toilet and includes a hinge post configured to couple to the toilet and a toilet seat pivotably coupled to the hinge post about an axis. The toilet seat is made of a single injection molded plastic piece. The toilet seat includes a support surface configured to support a person on the toilet seat and a shield extending below the support surface. The shield is configured to block waste from spilling out of the toilet during use. The toilet seat further includes a plurality of supports extending outwardly from an outer surface of the guard. The plurality of supports are configured to position the support surface at an elevated height above the rim.

In another aspect, a raised toilet seat assembly is for a toilet and includes a toilet seat configured to be pivotably coupled to the toilet about an axis. The toilet seat includes a support surface having an inner top edge defining a top opening of the toilet seat. The support surface is configured to support a person on the toilet seat. The elevated toilet seat assembly also includes a guard extending below the support surface. The guard has an inner bottom edge defining a bottom opening of the toilet seat. The shield is configured to block waste from spilling out of the toilet during use. The guard tapers from an inner bottom edge of the guard towards an inner top edge of the support surface.

In yet another aspect, a raised toilet seat assembly is for a toilet and includes a toilet seat configured to be pivotably coupled to the toilet about an axis in at least a use position in which the toilet seat engages a rim surface of the toilet. The toilet seat includes a support surface having an inner top edge defining a top opening. The support surface is configured to support a person on the toilet seat. The elevated toilet seat assembly also includes a guard extending below the support surface. The guard has an inner bottom edge defining a bottom opening of the toilet seat. The shield is configured to block waste from spilling out of the toilet during use. The plane is configured to: the plane is perpendicular to a rim surface of the toilet bowl and extends through the top opening and the bottom opening when the toilet seat is in the use position. A first distance measured in the plane between opposing points on the inner top edge is less than a second distance measured in the plane between opposing points on the inner bottom edge.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a raised toilet seat assembly attached to a toilet and in an erect position, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the raised toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1 in a lowered position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the raised toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the raised toilet seat assembly of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the raised toilet seat assembly of figure 3.

Detailed Description

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "attached" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and attachments. Further, "connected" and "attached" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or attachments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that terms of degree such as "substantially" or "approximately" refer to a reasonable range outside of the given value, e.g., the general tolerances associated with the manufacture, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.

Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate a raised toilet seat assembly 10 attached to a toilet 15. The toilet seat assembly 10 includes a toilet seat 20, the toilet seat 20 being pivotably attached to a hinge post 25 about an axis 30 between a first position (fig. 1) and a second position (fig. 2). The first position is a standing or upright position. The second position is a lowered or use position when the toilet seat 20 engages the rim surface 32 of the toilet 15. The hinge post 25 includes two post members 35 that are attached to a base 40 of the toilet 15. The hinge post 25 can be secured to the base 40 by a fastener or selectively attached to the base 40 by a quick disconnect feature. In other embodiments, the hinge post 25 may comprise one post member that attaches the toilet seat 20 to the base 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the height 45 of the hinge post 25 (i.e., the distance between the axis 30 and the bottom surface 50 of the hinge post 25; FIG. 4) is between about 3 inches and about 5 inches. In some embodiments, the height 45 of the hinge post 25 is about 4 inches.

The illustrated toilet seat 20 is made of plastic. More specifically, the toilet seat 20 is injection molded as a single solid piece of plastic. Thus, the following features of the toilet seat 20 are formed in one injection molding process. Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the toilet seat 20 includes an upper portion 55, the upper portion 55 having a support surface 60, the support surface 60 being defined between an outer periphery 65 and an inner periphery 70 of the upper portion 55. The inner periphery 70 is the inner seat edge of the upper portion 55 and defines a center or top opening 75 of the toilet seat 20. As best shown in fig. 4, upper portion 55 defines a maximum thickness 80 (e.g., a maximum height of upper portion 55) of between about 0.35 inches and about 0.85 inches. The maximum thickness 80 is measured from the support surface 60 to the bottom surface 85 of the upper portion 55. In other embodiments, the maximum thickness 80 of the upper portion 55 is about 0.6 inches. Further, the upper portion 55 includes a protrusion 90 (fig. 4 and 5) to attach with the hinge post 25.

The toilet seat 20 also includes a lower portion 95 (FIG. 4) extending from the bottom surface 85 of the upper portion 55. The lower portion 95 includes a shield or guard 100, the shield or guard 100 having: an upper edge 105 (fig. 3 and 5), the upper edge 105 being defined by the inner perimeter 70 of the upper portion 55; a lower or inner guard edge 110, the lower or inner guard edge 110 defining the bottom opening 106 of the toilet seat 20 and being opposite the upper edge 105; and an inner surface 115 and an outer surface 120, the inner surface 115 and the outer surface 120 extending between the upper edge 105 and the lower edge 110. The guard 100 defines a height 125 of about 2.12 inches to about 2.62 inches. In other embodiments, the height 125 is about 2.375 inches. The height 125 is measured from the upper edge 105 to the lower edge 110 of the guard 100. Thus, the ratio of height 125 to maximum thickness 80 of upper portion 55 is between about 3 and about 6. In other embodiments. The ratio of height 125 to maximum thickness 80 of upper portion 55 is about 4. The illustrated guard 100 tapers from a lower edge 110 to an upper edge 105. Referring to fig. 4, the guard 100 includes a non-linear taper (e.g., a curved taper) that tapers continuously from the lower edge 110 to the upper edge 105. In other embodiments, the guard 100 may include a linear taper. In further embodiments, the guard 100 may be stepped tapered and/or include portions without any taper and other portions with angled tapers. In yet further embodiments, the guard 100 may include a non-continuous taper from the lower edge 110 to the upper edge 105. Further, the illustrated shield 100 continuously and completely surrounds the central opening 75 (fig. 5) of the upper portion 55, and the shield 100 does not extend outwardly beyond the outer periphery 65 (fig. 4 and 5) of the upper portion 55. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower edge 110 is positioned between the outer perimeter 65 and the inner perimeter 70 of the upper portion 55.

With continued reference to fig. 5, a longitudinal plane 130 (e.g., a first plane) is oriented perpendicular to the axis 30 and extends through the top opening 75 and the bottom opening 106 of the toilet seat 20. Thus, when the toilet seat 20 is in the use position, the longitudinal plane 130 is also oriented perpendicular to the rim surface 32 of the toilet 15 and extends through the top opening 75 and the bottom opening 106. Fig. 5 shows one location of the longitudinal plane 130 (e.g., extending centrally through the top opening 75 and the bottom opening 106), but the longitudinal plane 130 can also be positioned differently (e.g., to the right or left of the longitudinal plane 130, as illustrated in fig. 5) so long as the longitudinal plane 130 is oriented perpendicular to the axis 30. With continued reference to fig. 5, the first distance 135 is less than the second distance 145, the first distance 135 being measured in the longitudinal plane 130 between opposing points 140 on the upper edge 105, and the second distance 145 being measured in the longitudinal plane 130 between opposing points 150 on the lower edge 110.

The guard 100 also includes a transverse plane 155 (e.g., a second plane; fig. 5), the transverse plane 155 being oriented parallel to the axis 30 and perpendicular to the rim surface 32 of the toilet 15 when the toilet seat 20 is in the use position. The transverse plane 155 also extends through the top opening 75 and the bottom opening 106. Fig. 5 shows one position of the transverse plane 155 (e.g., extending centrally through the top and bottom openings 75, 106), but the transverse plane 155 can also be positioned differently (e.g., above or below the transverse plane 155 as illustrated in fig. 5) so long as the transverse plane 155 is oriented parallel to the axis 30 and perpendicular to the rim surface 32 when the toilet seat 20 is in the use position. With continued reference to fig. 5, the third distance 160 is less than the fourth distance 170, the third distance 160 being measured in the transverse plane 155 between opposing points 165 on the upper edge 105, and the fourth distance 170 being measured in the transverse plane 155 between opposing points 175 on the lower edge 110. In other words, the maximum dimension of the upper edge 105 of the support surface 60 (e.g., the distance from the point 140) is less than the maximum dimension of the lower edge 110 of the guard 100 (e.g., the distance from the point 150). Thus, in one embodiment, the maximum dimension of the upper edge 105 and the lower edge 110 can be measured perpendicular to the axis 30. In other embodiments, the maximum dimension of the upper edge 105 and the lower edge 110 can be measured parallel to the axis 30 such that the maximum dimension of the upper edge 10 (e.g., the distance from the point 165) is less than the maximum dimension of the lower edge 110 (e.g., the distance from the point 175).

Referring to fig. 5, a plurality of supports 180 extend outwardly from the outer surface 120 of the protective shield 100 toward the outer periphery 65 of the upper portion 55. In other words, each support 180 extends from the outer surface 120 of the protective shield 100 substantially parallel to the axis 30. In the illustrated embodiment, each support 180 extends from the bottom surface 85 of the upper portion 55 to the lower edge 110 of the guard 100 along the entire height 125 of the guard 100 (fig. 4). For example, the height 125 of the guard 100 is approximately the same as the height of the support 180, which is greater than the maximum thickness 80 of the upper portion 55. In other embodiments, the at least one support 180 can extend a portion of the height 125 of the protective shield 100 (e.g., from partway through the protective shield 100 to the lower edge 110). Support members 180 are formed within the footprint area of upper portion 55 (i.e., support members 180 do not extend outwardly beyond outer periphery 65 of support surface 60). The illustrated supports 180 include two pairs of supports, with each pair of supports being positioned on opposite sides of the guard 100 and extending away from each other (fig. 5). In other embodiments, the supports 180 may include more or less than four supports and/or be arranged differently around the protective shield 100. For example, the toilet seat 20 may include at least one support 180 extending (laterally (e.g., non-parallel) to the axis 30) toward/away from the protrusion 90. In the illustrated embodiment, each support 180 includes a foot 185 positioned on one end of the support 180. Each foot 185 extends below the lower edge 110 of the guard 100 (fig. 4). In other embodiments, each foot 185 may be a separate component from the toilet seat 20 (e.g., a rubber foot) that can be attached to the end of each support 180. In such embodiments, the feet 185 provide a softer contact surface, which reduces the likelihood of marring (marring) or noisely engaging the toilet 15 during use.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the toilet seat assembly 10 further includes two support handles or arms 190 for stabilizing a person sitting on the toilet seat 20 and/or standing up from the toilet seat 20 during use of the toilet seat 20. In particular, each arm 190 has a tubular configuration and is fixed to a pair of supports 180. In other embodiments, the arm 190 can be removably attached to the toilet seat 20. In some embodiments, the support handle 190 may be plastic injection molded as one piece with the toilet seat 20. In further embodiments, the toilet seat assembly 10 may omit the support handle 190.

The illustrated toilet seat assembly 10 further includes a cover 195 that is pivotally attached to the hinge post 25 and the protrusion 90 about the axis 30 to selectively cover the central opening 75 of the toilet seat 20.

When the toilet seat 20 is moved from the upright position (fig. 1) to the use position (fig. 2), the legs 185 of the support member 180 engage the rim surface 32 of the toilet 15 to support the toilet seat 20 at an elevated height above the rim surface 32. Thus, the bottom surface 85 of the upper portion 55 is positioned away from the rim surface 32 of the toilet 15 (e.g., the bottom surface 85 does not engage the rim surface 32). In the illustrated embodiment, the support surface 60 of the toilet seat 20 is positioned between about 3 inches and about 5 inches above the rim surface 32 once the toilet seat 20 is in the use position. Thus, the elevated height of the support surface 60 helps to assist a person in sitting down on the support surface 60 or standing up from the support surface 60 before/after use. Further, the guard 100 is operable to block waste from spilling out of the toilet 15 during use.

As best shown in fig. 4, when the feet 185 extend beyond the lower edge 110 of the guard 100 to engage the rim surface 32 of the toilet 15, the lower edge 110 is positioned above the rim surface 32 (e.g., the lower edge 110 does not extend below the rim surface 32 into the toilet 15). In other embodiments, the feet 185 may be omitted such that the lower edge 110 of the guard 100 is positioned substantially flush with the rim surface 32 when the support 180 engages the rim surface 32. Because the guard 100 does not extend into the toilet 15, the toilet seat 20 is operationally universal for many different types of toilets 15 (e.g., american-circle toilets, american-slim toilets, euro-toilets, etc.).

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.