Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Buffers and dashpots
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2002-05-28
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Buffers and dashpots
C016S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06393624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a damping device for toilet seat or toilet lid in a western-style toilet, and a toilet equipped with the damping device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some high-quality western-style toilets, in order to prevent an impact sound from occurring when the toilet seat or lid is dropped, damping devices (or slow-closing devices) have been provided on the axis of rotation of the toilet seat or toilet lid in order to mitigate the force of rotational motion. For example, in the toilet seat and toilet lid opening/closing device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined (Kokai) Patent Application No. Hei 4[1992]-259424, as shown in
FIG. 26
, hinges
202
and
203
for the toilet seat
201
and hinges
205
and
206
for the toilet lid
204
are placed side-by-side, and opening and closing devices
207
and
208
that have damping functions are provided outside these hinges.
With this opening and closing device, a driving force transfer hole
210
such as a square hole is formed in one of the hinges
202
of the toilet seat
201
, and a driving force non-transfer hole (not shown in the figure) that does not transfer drive force is formed in the other hinge
203
. In addition, a driving force non-transfer hole (not shown in the figure) is formed in one of the hinges
205
for the toilet seat cover
204
, and a drive force transfer hole
212
is formed in the other hinge
206
. Thus, one of the hinge pins
215
links the hinge
202
of the toilet seat
201
and one of the opening-closing devices
207
, and the other hinge pin
216
links the hinge
206
of the toilet lid
204
and the other opening/closing device
208
. As a result, the rotation of the toilet seat
201
in the downward direction is damped by one of the opening/closing devices
207
, and rotation of the toilet lid
204
in the downward direction is damped by the other opening-closing device
208
.
Another opening/closing device for toilet seats or toilet lids is disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 8[1996]-117148, shown in FIG.
27
. An attachment member
222
is fastened to the toilet
221
, and opening/closing devices
223
,
224
having symmetrical orientations are inserted into the attachment member
222
. Hinges
225
that constitute the attachment parts for the toilet seat are then disposed on both sides of the attachment member
222
, and hinges
226
that constitute the attachment parts for the toilet lid are disposed on both sides of hinges
225
. An attachment pin
227
is attached on the side of the opening/closing device
223
, and an attachment pin
228
is attached on the side of the opening/closing device
224
, while passing through the hinges
225
and
226
.
On the other hand, with common western-style toilets, a variety of integrated toilet seat and lid units having different shapes or colors are available, and may be interchangeably installed on toilets. In the United States in particular, these types of toilet seat/toilet lid units are sold at low cost, and users may obtain toilet seat/toilet lid units that match their personal preferences. It is common for users themselves to dispose of old units, and use screws to attach the newly purchased unit. This attachment is carried out by providing an attachment member having a retention part that retains the rotating shaft and fastening flange between the hinge part of the toilet lid and hinge part of the toilet seat, so that attachment may be carried out by fastening this attachment member to the toilet. With toilets on which this type of toilet seat/toilet lid unit is installed, there is no damping mechanism on the side of the toilet to which it is attached, and a loud impact noise is produced when the toilet seat or toilet lid is released when closing the toilet seat, etc. Moreover, damage due to the impact of dropping ensues whereby the hinge parts are broken or the toilet seat or toilet lid is broken.
The opening/closing devices
207
,
208
in the opening/closing device for toilet seats and toilet lids disclosed in Japanese Unexamined (Kokai) Patent Application No. Hei 4[1992]-259424 (
FIG. 26
) have a format whereby they are attached to the side surface of the toilet. This format generally involves attachment to the base cover of a warm water bidet-type toilet seat disposed on both sides of the toilet. For this reason, it is difficult to attach the opening/closing devices
207
,
208
with toilets that do not have warm water bidet-type toilet seats. Moreover, the hinge
202
of the toilet seat
201
and the hinge
205
of the toilet lid
204
are in close contact, and the hinge
203
of the toilet seat
201
and the hinge
206
of the toilet lid
204
are in close contact, so there is the danger that the toilet lid
204
will also tend to move downward due to frictional forces when the toilet seat
201
is moved downward.
Moreover, the opening/closing devices
207
,
208
are disposed with mirror symmetry, so they are not identical in terms of their damping directions. Specifically, the directions of action of the damping functions must be opposite, so the devices must be structurally different. For this reason, the cost of the opening/closing devices
207
and
208
increases. Moreover, it is necessary not to mistake the left and right parts when attaching them, and assembly errors may easily occur.
Moreover, with the opening/closing device for toilet seats and toilet lids of the toilet disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 8[1996]-117148 (FIG.
27
), the opening/closing devices
223
,
224
must have a large attachment member
222
, so the space for sitting on the toilet
221
is decreased. Moreover, the hinges
225
and
226
are in contact on one side, and the hinges
225
and
226
are also in contact on the other side, so that the same problem occurs as in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 4[1992]-259424 described above. Moreover, the opening/closing devices
223
,
224
are disposed with mirror symmetry, so the damping direction is not the same for the left and right sides, as with the opening/closing devices
207
,
208
. For this reason, the same problems arise in this regard as in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 4[1992]-259424 described above.
Thus, with conventional opening/closing devices, a spring member is provided on the rotating shaft, which strongly applies a damping force in the final range when a toilet seat or toilet lid undergoes rotational falling, but the structure is complicated, large, costly and difficult to assemble. Moreover, fine response to changes in operating torque of the rotating member is problematic, and it is thus difficult to produce a high-quality feel during use. On the other hand, replaceable toilet seat/toilet lid units, while may be readily removed and attached according to personal preference, have no damping function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a damping device for toilet seat and lid unit that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a damping device for a toilet seat/toilet lid unit in a western-style toilet that is easy to install and has a simple structure and low cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a damping device for a toilet seat/toilet lid unit in which parts with the same shape and same structure may be attached as-is at the left and right attachment points using two damping devices.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a damping device for a toilet seat/toilet lid unit in which control of the rotational force of the seat and/or lid is gradually increased with the rotation of the toilet seat and/or lid.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The
Fetsuga Robert M.
Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
Nguyen Tuhn
Sankyo Seiki Mfg. Co. Ltd.
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