Toilet seat cover safety latch

• US 4,561,130 A
• Filed: 06/05/1984
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dewey Bumgardner, Julian Marple Jr
• Original Assignee: Dewey Bumgardner, Julian Marple Jr
• Inventors: Marple, Julian Jr., Bumgardner, Dewey
• Primary Examiner(s): Artis, Henry K.
• Application Number:
  US06/617,556
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 4/234, 4/252, 4/253, 4/661, 4/236, 4/240, 16/323, 16/319, 16/324, 16/337, 16/338, 16/320, 16/341, 292/251.5, 292/358
• US Class Current: 4/253
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/242 Devices for locking the cover in the closed position

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for controlling the operation of a toilet seat cover comprising a base, two pairs of linkages and a cover engaging element. An adjusting bolt and spring provide a structure for adjusting the alignment of the linkages. When the linkages are below their axes of alignment, the adjusting bolt interacts with the base to provide resistance to the opening of the seat cover. An alternative embodiment incorporates magnets on the seat cover and the toilet bowl and relies on the repelling force of the magnets to resist the opening of the seat cover.

Claims

1. A safety latch for providing resistance to the opening of a toilet seat cover for a toilet bowl, comprising:

a cover engaging element mounted to the back side of a toilet seat cover;

a base fixed to the toilet bowl;

linkage means interconnecting said cover engaging element and said base for providing resistance to the lifting of the toilet seat cover; and

means for adjusting the magnitude of lifting resistance provided by said linkage means.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said linkage means comprise two parallel pairs of toggle links mounted on opposite sides of said base, the two links connected to said base being interconnected by a crosspiece.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the adjustment means is mounted through the crosspiece and abutting said base for adjusting the alignment of the links to thereby adjust the magnitude of lifting resistance.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a means for applying a downward bias on said linkages.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the adjusting means comprises a bolt threadably engaged with the crosspiece.

5. A safety latch for a hinged cover, comprising:

a cover engaging element mounted to the hinged side of the cover;

a base fixed to a surface adjacent the hinge of the cover;

first and second toggle linkages interconnecting said cover engaging element and said base, said first linkages comprising two parallel links interconnected by a transverse crosspiece, said second linkages comprising parallel links interconnected between the first linkages and the cover engaging element by pivot pins;

adjustment means mounted in said crosspiece and abutting against said base for adjusting the position of the longitudinal axes of the links and thereby the resistance to lifting the cover is dependent upon the adjustment of the axes of the links.

6. A safety latch for providing resistance to the opening of a toilet seat cover for a toilet bowl comprising magnet means for providing resistance to the opening of the cover;

said magnet means including;

a first magnet engaged with the toilet seat cover and a second magnet mounted adjacent the first magnet with like poles in confronting relationship when said seat is in the closed position;

wherein the repulsive force between the magnets provides the resistances to the opening of the cover.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the pivot of the seat cover is located between the seat cover and the first magnet such that the first magnet is lowered toward the second magnet when the seat cover is raised.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the first magnet and second magnet are arranged such that the first magnet is partially inverted with respect to the second magnet when the seat cover is raised such that both poles of the first magnet are in equal proximity to one pole of the second magnet.