Operating hinge for seat and seat lid of toilet bowl

• US 5,906,010 A
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Naokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/038,434
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 4/236, 4/240, 4/246.1, 4/248, 16/86 R, 16/342, 188/268
• US Class Current: 4/236
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/12 Hinges

Abstract

An operating hinge for a seat and seat lid of a toilet bowl, simply constructed and capable of controlling the angular moment of the seat and lid to softly stop them in place at their respective predetermined ends of pivoting stroke, provided. The operating hinge comprises a hinge case to be installed to a body of a toilet bowl, a shaft provided rotatably inside the hinge case to support the seat and seat lid, a stationary cam secured inside the hinge case and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated, a cam provided inside the hinge case in a vis-vis relationship with the stationary cam and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated, to be slidable on, and rotatable with, the rotating shaft, and a resilient member for urging the rotatable sliding cam toward the stationary cam, further comprising, to more positively control the rotation of the rotating shaft, a rubber ring fitted on the rotating shaft to abut the inner wall of the hinge case, a viscous oil applied between the periphery of the rubber ring and the hinge case inner wall the rubber ring abuts, and a screw for adjusting a pressure the rubber ring applies to the inner wall of the hinge case.

Claims

1. An operating hinge for a seat and seat lid of a toilet bowl, comprising:

a hinge case to be installed to a body of a toilet bowl;

a shaft provided rotatably inside the hinge case to support the seat and seat lid;

a stationary cam secured inside the hinge case and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated;

a cam provided inside the hinge case in a vis-vis relationship with the stationary cam and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated, to be slidable on, and rotatable with, the rotating shaft; and

a resilient member for urging the rotatable sliding cam toward the stationary cam;

further comprising, to more positively control the rotation of the rotating shaft;

a rubber ring fitted on the rotating shaft between the rotating shaft and the hinge case to abut the inner wall of the hinge case;

a viscous oil applied between the periphery of the rubber ring and the hinge case inner wall the rubber ring abuts; and

a means of adjusting a pressure the rubber ring applies to the inner wall of the hinge case.

2. The operating hinge according to claim 1, wherein the means of adjusting the pressure applied by the rubber ring comprises a flanged collar fitted on, and rotatably with, a small-diameter portion of the rotating shaft penetrated through a partition wall formed integrally in the hinge case, a rubber ring fitted on the periphery of the collar, a compression ring fitted axially slidably on the periphery of the collar to abut the rubber ring, a washer and a screw urging the compression ring axially.

3. An operating hinge for a seat and seat lid of a toilet bowl, including:

a hinge case to be installed to a body of a toilet bowl;

a shaft provided rotatably inside the hinge case to support the seat and seat lid;

a stationary cam secured inside the hinge case and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated;

a cam provided inside the hinge case in a vis-vis relationship with the stationary cam and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated, to be slidable on, and rotatable with, the rotating shaft; and

a resilient member for urging the rotatable sliding cam toward the stationary cam;

further comprising, to more positively control the rotation of the rotating shaft;

a rubber ring fitted on the rotating shaft between the rotating shaft and the hinge case to abut the inner wall of the hinge case;

a viscous oil applied between the outer periphery of the rubber ring and the inner wall of the hinge case to which the rubber ring is force-fitted;

a means of adjusting a pressure the rubber ring applies to the inner wall of the hinge case; and

a recess formed in the outer periphery of the rubber ring to receive and retain the viscous oil therein.

4. An operating hinge for a seat and seat lid of a toilet bowl, including:

a hinge case to be installed to a body of a toilet bowl;

a shaft provided rotatably inside the hinge case to support the seat and seat lid;

a stationary cam secured inside the hinge case and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated;

a cam provided inside the hinge case in a vis-vis relationship with the stationary cam and having formed therein a central hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated, to be slidable on, and rotatable with, the rotating shaft; and

a resilient member for urging the rotatable sliding cam toward the stationary cam;

further comprising, to more positively control the rotation of the rotating shaft;

a rubber ring fitted on the rotating shaft between the rotating shaft and the hinge case to abut the inner wall of the hinge case;

a viscous oil being applied between the periphery of the rubber ring and the hinge case inner wall the rubber ring abuts;

a means of adjusting a pressure the rubber ring applies to the inner wall of the hinge case, the means comprising a flanged collar fitted on, and rotatably with, a small-diameter portion of the rotating shaft penetrated through a partition wall formed integrally in the hinge case, a rubber ring fitted on the periphery of the collar, a compression ring fitted axially slidably on the periphery of the collar to abut the rubber ring, a washer and a screw urging the compression ring axially; and

a recess formed in the periphery of the rubber ring to receive and retain the viscous oil therein.