Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Mechanism positions cover on seat – Tubular type cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-10-30
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Mechanism positions cover on seat
Tubular type cover
C004S243100, C004S244200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308346
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to hygienic toilet seats and more particularly to an improved electromechanical assembly for fitting and changing a tubular cover of plastic film on a toilet seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toilet seats having a device for hygienic covering by a tubular film are known. For example, expired U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,212 to Hefty et al. teaches an arrangement for fitting and changing a tubular cover made of plastic film on a horseshoe shaped toilet seat. Generally, a roll of tubular toilet seat cover material extends from a supply reel, around the seat, to a take-up reel. The tubular cover is advanced one seat length between uses. The supply and take-up reels are contained, along with a motor, electric power source and pulley/gear arrangement, in a housing. In operation, the user actuates the motor by pressing a button or pulling a lever, thereby advancing the covering to provide one complete replacement of the tubular cover around the seat.
Various features of the device taught by Hefty et al. are capable of being improved upon. For instance, the known device does not include a means for detecting resistance changes during advancement of the tubular covering. Consequently, in instances where the cover material is torn or snared, the motor and gear assembly will continue to operate despite the lack of advancement of cover material around the seat. Furthermore, the quantity of covering material advanced may be insufficient due to slipping of tubing on the take up reel. Other limitations include extensive reliance on mechanical parts, such as gears, pulleys and belts, which are susceptible to failure. It would be desirable to provide an improved device overcoming the aforementioned limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved sanitary toilet seat assembly is provided for advancing tubular plastic around a toilet seat. The assembly comprises a toilet seat having a first and a second end and a base member to which the toilet seat is operatively connected. A top cover is provided for covering at least a portion of the base member, thereby forming a housing. A dispenser shaft is provided proximate to the first end, and a take-up shaft is provided proximate the second end. Tubular plastic forms a roll around the dispenser shaft which extends around the toilet seat and forms a roll around the take-up shaft. A motor is provided within the housing for operatively driving the take-up shaft to advance the tubular plastic. A pressure plate is also positioned within the housing to engage and deflect the tubular plastic.
The pressure plate can be integrally formed with the top cover. The pressure plate can engage the tubular plastic to produce a deflection of the tubular plastic, the deflection having a component parallel to a translation direction of the tubular plastic. The assembly can further comprise a counter shaft attachable to at least one magnet and positioned within the housing proximate to the take-up shaft and a control system for controlling advancement of the tubular plastic through the take-up shaft responsive to rotation of the counter shaft. The pressure plate can extend substantially downwardly, from the top cover and engage the tubular plastic for deflecting the tubular plastic under tension in a substantially downward direction, the tubular plastic contacting and rotating the counter shaft as it advances to the take-up shaft. The pressure plate increases contact of the tubular plastic with the counter shaft.
The control system can include electronic circuitry on a printed circuit board to detect resistance in the advancement of the tubular sheet by monitoring counter shaft rotation. The electronic circuitry can halt operation of the motor upon detection of a specified resistance limit in the advancement of the tubular sheet. The assembly can further comprise a heat shrinkable plastic wrapped around the motor. The motor can be initially activated by an activation button.
An improved cover for a sanitary toilet seat assembly for advancing tubular plastic from a roll around a dispenser shaft, around a toilet seat, and onto a roll around take-up shaft is driven by a motor initiated by an activation button. The toilet assembly has a base for supporting the dispenser shaft, the take-up shaft and the toilet seat. The cover comprises a cover body defining an upwardly concave interior cavity having an open bottom terminating at a rim. The rim has a length and a transverse width, the body having two openings along the length of the rim for passage of the tubular plastic during use. The cover body has an aperture for receiving the activation button. The cover body provides a pressure plate which extends within the cavity toward the open bottom, the pressure plate being aligned along the length with one of the openings. The cover, when mounted on the base member covers the dispenser shaft, the take-up shaft and the motor. This arrangement permits passage of the tubular plastic out of the cover, around the toilet seat and back into the cover through the openings and provides the pressure plate for engaging and deflecting the tubular plastic.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4213212 (1980-07-01), Hefty et al.
patent: 4662009 (1987-05-01), Heft
patent: 4847922 (1989-07-01), Iue-Tzung et al.
patent: 5253372 (1993-10-01), Boker
patent: 5685024 (1997-11-01), Chu et al.
Bollea John
Brill Alan
Hoover Dale
Akerman & Senterfitt
Brill Hygienic Products, Inc.
Walczak David J.
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