Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Seat and lid – Hinges
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-06-12
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Seat and lid
Hinges
C004S240000, C004S242100, C220S831000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243884
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to toilet seat assemblies, and in particular, to a toilet seat assembly having an upright position lock which prevents the toilet seat assembly from inadvertently pivoting from a vertical-upright position to a horizontal-down position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different types of toilet seat assemblies are available on the market today. In general, these toilet seat assemblies have a tendency to inadvertently drop from the upright position to the horizontal-down position. This is especially true of toilet seat assemblies of toilets found in mobile vehicles such as boats which are typically subjected to rolling and pitching movements.
Those users who patronize toilet facilities in a standing position find this tendency to be a real inconvenience. As such, the user must often hold the seat assembly in the upright position while using the facility. Some users will even lower the seat member of the assembly into the horizontal position and use the toilet facility in that manner. Such usage can create sanitary problems for subsequent users of the facility.
Accordingly, there is a need for a toilet seat assembly that is capable of remaining in the vertical-upright position even when the toilet facility to which it is mounted is located in a moving vehicle such as a boat or recreation vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A toilet seat assembly comprising a seat for permitting a user to sit over a toilet bowl of a toilet apparatus and a hinge pivotally attaching the seat to the toilet apparatus so that the user can manually pivot the seat relative to the toilet bowl between a vertical-upright position and a horizontal-down position. The hinge has a lock which automatically engages when the seat is manually pivoted into the vertical-upright position to prevent the seat from inadvertently pivoting back to the horizontal-down position.
The toilet seat assembly can be further provided with a lid for selectively covering the toilet seat. In such an embodiment, the hinge lock also can be adapted to prevent the lid from inadvertently pivoting from the vertical-upright position to the horizontal-down position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1243815 (1917-10-01), Collins
patent: 3020564 (1962-02-01), Chodacki et al.
patent: 5842234 (1998-12-01), Dixon
Huson Gregory L.
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lombardi Menotti J.
Prunner Kathleen J.
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