Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Seat and lid – Hinges
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2001-07-24
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Seat and lid
Hinges
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263516
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a toilet cover assembly comprising a seat and a cover which adjacent their respective rearmost edges are interconnected by means of two interspaced hinges having horizontal axes, each hinge comprising a seat hinge eye member and an adjacent cover hinge eye member, a hinge bushing having an outer bearing surface, on which the seat hinge eye member and the cover hinge eye member are rotatably arranged, and a first outer, radially extending projection abutting an edge face of the seat hinge eye member of and/or of the cover hinge eye member, said toilet cover assembly further comprising a mounting member provided with fastening means for fastening the assembly to a toilet bowl as well as a freely projecting, horizontal hinge pin having a circumferential recess accommodating an inner, radially extending projection on the bushing.
BACKGROUND ART
On toilet bowls of different makes, the mounting apertures for mounting the cover assembly are arranged with varying interspacing and also with varying spacing from the opening of the toilet bowl. Thus, the hinges of toilet cover assemblies are often adjustable to enable mounting thereof on a great number of different toilet bowls while maintaining a correct positioning of the seat relative to the rim of the bowl. However this adjustability entails that it might be difficult to mount the cover assembly correctly on the bowl, in that it has to be ensured during the mounting that the bushing does not shift on the hinge pin and the hinge eye members do not shift on the bushing.
DE-A1-44 09 516 discloses a toilet cover assembly of the above type, wherein the inner projection of the bushing engages the recess of the hinge pin such that it cannot be removed from the pin (see column 2, line 68 to column 3. line 6). The hinge eye members of the cover and the seat are prevented from against axial displacement relative to the bushing by means of an inner collar and an inwardly projecting tooth provided on the outer hinge eye member and engaging a groove in the bearing surface of the bushing. The hinges of this toilet cover assembly only allow insertion of the hinge pin and its bushing into the hinge eye member from one side, which limits the adjustability of the hinges when said hinges are to be mounted on toilet bowls with varying spacing between the mounting holes contrary to those shown in this document.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a toilet cover assembly of the above type comprising hinges that facilitate mounting of the assembly on the toilet bowl, even when the hinges are adjustable to enable mounting of toilet cover assembly on toilet bowls having varying interspacing between the holes.
The toilet cover assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the bushing is resilient in the portion at the inner projection and that the radial dimension of the inner projection, the dimension of the bearing surface at least in the portion at the inner projection and the inner dimension of the eye members are all adapted such that the inner projection may be brought into and out of engagement with the recess of the hinge pin by insertion of the pin into the bushing and removal of the pin from the bushing when the eye members are accommodated on the bearing surface of the bushing and that the bushing is resilient in the portion at the first outer projection such that the portion may be inserted through the eye members when the eye members are to be received on the bearing surface before the hinge pin is inserted into the bushing.
This structure of the bushing makes it possible—prior to insertion of the hinge pin therein—to insert the bushing in the hinge eye members from both sides thereof, and subsequently insert the hinge pin into the bushing. If the toilet cover assembly cannot be placed correctly on the toilet bowl with the chosen insertion direction of the bushing, the hinge pin can be pulled out of the bushing, which in turn can be pulled out of the hinge eye members. Subsequently hereto the bushing is inserted into the eye members from the other side, whereafter the hinge pin is reinserted into the bushing to enable correct mounting of the toilet cover assembly on the toilet bowl.
According to the invention the bushing may be provided with preferably axially extending first slots in the portion at the first outer projection. As a result the bushing becomes resilient in the portion at the first outer projection at the same time as it is possible to use a comparativelv rigid material for the bushing, whereby the accommodation of the eye member or eye members on the bearing surface is obtained by means of a snapping effect.
Furthermore according to the invention the bushing may at one end be provided with a second outer, radially extending projection spaced apart from the first outer projection and abutting an edge face of the cover hinge eye member or the seat hinge eye member. As both the first outer projection and the second outer projection abut an edge face of the cover hinge eye member or the seat hinge eye member, the seat and cover are prevented from axial displacement on the bushing and are thus securely held together before insertion of the hinge pin in the bushing. This feature is advantageous in connection with packing and dispatch of the toilet cover assembly.
Moreover according to the invention the first projection of the bushing may be arranged at the other end of the bushing, whereby the two projections are arranged at respective ends of the bushing and abutting the outwardly facing edge face of the respective hinge eye member when the eye members have been arranged on the bearing surface of the bushing.
According to the invention the bushing may be closed at the end provided with the second outer projection. The closed end of the bushing and the outer projection are situated at the outer end of the hinge pin, when this has been inserted into the bushing and thus conceal the hinge pin in an appealing manner.
Furthermore according to the invention the first outer projection may be provided with a front ramp face inclining outwardly towards the rear when seen in relation to the insertion direction of the bushing to facilitate insertion of the bushing into the hinge eye members.
Moreover according to the invention the bushing may be provided with preferably axially extending additional slots in the portion at the inner projection. As a result resilience of the bushing in the portion at the inner projection is obtained in a simple manner at the same time as it is possible to use a comparatively rigid material for the bushing such that the engagement between the projection and recess of the hinge pin is obtained by a snapping effect.
According to the invention the bearing surface of the bushing may also be provided with a depression in the portion at the inner projection to allow for radial deflection at insertion of the hinge pin into the bushing to bring the inner projection into engagement with the recess of the hinge pin.
Finally according to the invention the inner projection may have side faces converging in inwardly direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3506983 (1970-04-01), Coggins
patent: 6071034 (2000-06-01), Cavagna
patent: 4409516 (1994-09-01), None
Boyter Dan
Carlsen Torkil
Nielsen Benny
Pedersen Kjeld Bruno
Rehnquist Klaus
Ladas and Parry
Phillips Charles E.
Pressalit A/S
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