Electronic toilet lid position signal

• US 5,926,099 A
• Filed: 12/08/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ana Laina Pedersen Unum
• Original Assignee: Ana Laina Pedersen Unum
• Inventors: Unum, Ana Laina Pedersen
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/986,599
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/573, 340/689, 340/687, 4/661, 200/61.52, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.62
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/24 Parts or details not covered in, or of interest apart from, groups A47K13/02 - A47K13/22, e.g. devices imparting a swinging or vibrating motion to the seats

Abstract

An electronic position signal device (10) that, when attached to a toilet lid (80), provides an audible and/or visual signal to indicate that toilet lid (80) is in an upright position. Position signal device (10) comprises a battery-powered electronic signaling module (20) with a transducer (30) for generating audible and/or visual signals similar to those used in greeting cards, and a position-sensitive switch (40). When position signal device (10) is used as a toilet lid position signal, position-sensitive switch (40) is a gravity-actuated switch which is closed (44) when the toilet lid position signal is in an upright or vertical position and open (42) when the toilet lid position signal is in a horizontal position. Closure of switch (40) activates signaling module (20) thereby causing transducer (30) to generate an audible and/or visual signal. Three gravity-actuated versions of switch (40) are described for bridging a gap between contacts (26A and 26B) which commonly are part of signaling module (20). In one version, a weighted flexible, electrically-conductive cantilevered spring bridges gap. In the second version, a suspended freely-swinging electrically-conductive mass bridges gap. In the third version, a loose electrically-conductive object bridges gap.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating a toilet lid'"'"'s position, comprising:

a housing for housing a position-sensitive switch and a self-powered electronic signaling module, which includes an electronic circuit board on which is mounted a battery power source and a pair of open contacts, and is connected to an audible and visible alarm means, wherein said audible and visible alarm means comprises a transducer and light emitting diodes;

said housing is mounted on the seat of the toilet lid;

said electronic signaling module activates the audible and visible alarms means when the toilet lid is in the upright position for reminding a user of returning the toilet lid to its lowered position after use;

wherein said position-sensitive switch includes a movable electrically-conductive object for bridging said pair open contacts;

wherein said moveable electrically-conductive object comprises a flexible electrically-conductive cantilever delivery means supported by being coupled to one end of said electronic signaling module and a weight means attached to the unsupported end of said cantilever delivery means whereby the unsupported end of said cantilever delivery means is deflected under the influence of gravity to move between said pair open contacts thereby closing an electrical circuit and activating said electronic position signal module.