Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Closet-bowl closures
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-31
2001-05-08
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Closet-bowl closures
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226805
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to toilet bowl lids, and more particularly to the locking of toilet bowl lids to prevent small children from gaining access.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
The use of locking devices for toilet lids and seats is known prior art. More specifically, lid and seat locking methods previously devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, not withstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
The present invention is directed to improving devices for denying access of small children into toilet bowls in a manner which is safe, secure, economical and aesthetically pleasing.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,813 to Lawson (1985) describes an automatically engagable locking device consisting of a single mounting bar attached to the underside of the lid that carries a pivoted, spring-biased locking arm which is released by simple finger pressure and returns to a positive locking position automatically.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,551 to Gardner (1986) describes a lid lock comprising a hinge arm connected to the toilet lid, a locking base connected to the hinge arm, and a locking handle pivotally connected to the locking bar.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,470 to Grenell (1984) describes a lock mechanism normally restraining manual raising movement of a toilet lid; a lid control shoe has an outer portion adapted for attachment to a lid upper surface and a shelf portion projecting toward a toilet apron surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,663 to Yost (1993) describes a device with a lock bolt attached to the rear of a toilet lid that has a bolt that rests on top of a toilet lid to deny access.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,641 to Selman (1990) describes a gravity reset mechanism having a pivotable locking arm extending over a toilet lid and is affixed to a housing containing interlocking parts which permit locking and unlocking of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,081 Schener, Brown, and Thuma (1996) describes a device that is mountable to the rim portion of the bowl where the housing includes at least one lock receiving element therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,771 to Khazin (1978) describes a flat locking strap that is secured at one end to the top of a toilet lid and to the toilet bowl with a means to disengage the strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,784 to Camp (1981) describes a rectangular-shaped lock block with its forked interface hinge that is joined by a common axle which also serves to hold the interface hinge firmly against the toilet seat to deny access.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,504 to Lawson (1980) describes a device for use with a toilet seat including a lever adapted to fit through a hole in the toilet seat cover so as to allow rotation of the lever when the toilet seat cover is in the horizontal position.
None of the inventions disclosed above provide an adequate means that is durable, inexpensive, provides ease of operation, is aesthetically pleasing, requires a minimum number of parts, is removable, and easy to produce and install.
In this respect, the Slide Bolt Toilet Lid Locking System according to the present invention substantially decreases the conventional concepts and designs of prior inventions, and in doing so provides a safe, durable, and reusable apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of denying access of small children into toilet bowls.
The present invention achieves its intended objects and advantages through a new, useful, unobvious combination of methods, steps, and components that use a minimum number of functional parts which can be manufactured at a reasonable cost with readily available materials.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the invention's process to deny access of small children into toilet bowls described in the current invention, several additional objects and advantages of this invention are:
a) Provide an improved apparatus for locking toilet lids which may be manufactured easily and efficiently.
b) Provide components that adjust to accommodate various size toilets, seats, and lids.
c) Provide a method to deny access into a toilet bowl, which provides in the apparati and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
d) Provide a method for adults or older children to disengage the system quickly.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to:
a) Provide a toilet lid locking method which will allow its removal and reuse.
b) Can be made or painted any color to match existing decor which make it aesthetically pleasing.
c) Provide a toilet lid locking system that may be universally applied to a wide variety of different toilets thereby precluding the need to manufacture or inventory a large number of different toilet lid locking methods.
d) Provide a locking toilet lid method that can be installed in existing holes easily.
e) Provide a locking toilet lid method that can be cleaned and disinfected easily.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a locking toilet lid system which can be used to deny small children access into a toilet bowl. In this, the present invention substantially fills this need.
As illustrated by the background art, efforts are obviously being made in an attempt to develop devices for denying access of children into toilet bowls. No prior effort, however, provides the benefits apparent with the present inventions. Additionally, the prior art and commercial techniques do not suggest the inventive combination of component elements and features configured as disclosed and claimed herein.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of ensuing description and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4145771 (1979-03-01), Khazin
patent: 4296504 (1981-10-01), Lawson
patent: 4395784 (1983-08-01), Foster
patent: 4507813 (1985-04-01), Lawson
patent: 4524470 (1985-06-01), Grenell
patent: 4561130 (1985-12-01), Bumgardner et al.
patent: 4575879 (1986-03-01), Cabral et al.
patent: 4724551 (1988-02-01), Gardner
patent: 5003641 (1991-04-01), Selman
patent: 5347663 (1994-09-01), Yost
patent: 5669081 (1997-09-01), Scherer et al.
patent: 2256206 (1992-12-01), None
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