Automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system

• US 6,230,336 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David M. Knoll, Koenig, Donald H.
• Original Assignee: David M. Knoll, Koenig, Donald H.
• Inventors: Koenig, Donald H., Knoll, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/135,853
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 424/61, 424/62
• US Class Current: 4/246.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/10 Devices for raising and lowering, e.g. tilting or lifting mechanismsthereby controlling flushing valves E03D5/04; Collapsible or rotating seats or covers

Abstract

An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system that eliminates the need for the user to touch any area of the toilet with their hands. The system utilizes the force of pressurized water to lift the toilet seat and seat cover. A lever actuator housing is mounted on the top surface of the toilet bowl adjacent the rear end of the toilet seat. A plurality of lifting levers extend from the front end of the lever actuator housing and they are connected respectively to either the toilet seat or the seat cover. The actuator assembly inside the lever actuator housing has means for using pressurized water to raise the respective lifting levers and the toilet seat and seat cover attached to them from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Remote control buttons located on a wall separated from the toilet can be utilized to lift and lower the toilet seat or seat cover as desired.

Claims

1. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system comprising:

a toilet bowl having a top surface;

a water tank connected to said toilet bowl;

said water tank having an interior water chamber;

a pressurized water source;

a primary tubular member having a first end and a second end;

said first end being connected to said pressurized water source;

said second end being connected to said water chamber in said water tank;

a toilet seat resting on said top surface of said toilet bowl;

said toilet seat having a front end and a rear end;

a lever actuator housing mounted on said top surface of said toilet bowl adjacent said rear end of said toilet seat;

said lever actuator housing having a height less than the height of said toilet bowl;

said lever actuator housing having a front end having at least one first lifting lever extending forwardly therefrom;

said first lifting lever being connected to said rear end of said toilet seat;

said rear end of said first lifting lever is connected to an upright oriented hinge disk having a horizontally oriented bore that receives a horizontally oriented shaft;

a secondary tubular member having a first end and a second end;

said first end being connected to said primary tubular member and providing a passageway for some of said pressurized water;

said second end being connected to actuator assembly means inside said lever actuator housing for using said pressurized water to raise said first lifting lever from a horizontal position to a vertical position; and

said actuator assembly means comprises at least one piston cylinder having a water inlet port adjacent its top end, a water outlet port adjacent its top end, and a piston having a top end and a bottom end positioned in said piston cylinder;

said second end of said secondary tubular member being connected to said water inlet port to provide pressurized water flow against said top end of said piston.

2. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system comprising:

a toilet bowl having a top surface;

a water tank connected to said toilet bowl;

said water tank having an interior water chamber;

a pressurized water source;

a primary tubular member having a first end and a second end;

said first end being connected to said pressurized water source;

said second end being connected to said water chamber in said water tank;

a toilet seat resting on said top surface of said toilet bowl;

said toilet seat having a front end and a rear end;

a lever actuator housing mounted on said top surface of said toilet bowl adjacent said rear end of said toilet seat;

said lever actuator housing having a front end having at least one first lifting lever extending forwardly therefrom;

said first lifting lever being connected to said rear end of said toilet seat;

said rear end of said first lifting lever is connected to an upright oriented hinge disk having a horizontally oriented bore that receives a horizontally oriented shaft;

a second tubular member having a first end and a second end;

said first end being connected to said primary tubular member and providing a passageway for some of said pressurized water;

said second end being connected to actuator assembly means inside said lever actuator housing for using said pressurized water to raise said first lifting lever from a horizontal position to a vertical position; and

said actuator assembly means comprises at least one piston cylinder having a water inlet port adjacent its top end, a water outlet port adjacent its top end, and a piston having a top end and a bottom end positioned in said piston cylinder;

said second end of said secondary tubular member being connected to said water inlet port to provide pressurized water flow against said top end of said piston;

an elongated bendable force transmitting member having a top end and a bottom end;

said top end being connected to said bottom end of said piston and said bottom end being connected to said hinge disk so that downward travel of said piston forces said hinge disk to rotate said horizontally oriented shaft and lift said first lifting lever and said toilet seat to a vertical position.

3. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for remotely releasing pressurized water to said water inlet port of said piston cylinder.

4. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system as recited in claim 3 further comprising means for releasing water out through said water outlet port of said piston cylinder.

5. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for remotely releasing, pressurized water to said inlet port comprises a radio frequency receiver, a battery, and an electric circuit in said lever actuator housing on said piston cylinder.

6. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system as recited in claim 2 further comprising an infra-red sensor mounted in said front end of said lever actuating housing for actuating a toilet flushing valve.

7. An automated toilet seat and seat cover lifting and lowering system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a seat cover and means in said lever actuator housing for lifting and lowering said seat cover.