US4402092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring mechanism for toilet seats
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-10-02
•
Granted: 1983-09-06
•
Expires: 2001-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A hinged toilet seat that is spring-biased to either an upright or a horizontal position is slowed in its angular rotation to the spring-biased position. The user manually pushes the toilet seat to its use position and after use the toilet seat returns to its spring-biased position. This angular rotation is slowed by the present mechanism wherein the seat is attached to a hinge shaft which has a large gear engaging a small gear on an idler shaft. The rotation of the idler shaft is braked by a slipping clutch, which thereby slows the angular motion of the toilet seat to its spring-biased position.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry L. Smallwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:24
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K13/00; A47K13/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A spring mechanism for returning a toilet seat to a desired angular position relative to a toilet bowl comprising: (a) a rotatable pivot shaft mounted on the toilet bowl and to which the toilet seat is secured so that the shaft is rotated whenever the toilet seat is rotated over its angular travel; (b) a spring interconnecting the toilet bowl and the pivot shaft and biased to yieldably hold the toilet seat in a desired position; (c) a gear secured to the pivot shaft; (d) an idler shaft; (e) a gear secured to the idler shaft engaging the gear on the pivot shaft; (f) and a slipping clutch connected to the idler shaft and connected to the toilet bowl to regulate the speed of rotation of the idler shaft as it is rotated by the spring acting on the pivot shaft, said slipping clutch permitting slippage when the toilet seat is manually rotated on the pivot shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A spring mechanism for returning a toilet seat to a desired angular position relative to a toilet bowl comprising: (a) a rotatable pivot shaft mounted on the toilet bowl and to which the toilet seat is secured so that the shaft is rotated whenever the toilet seat is rotated over its angular travel; (b) a spring interconnecting the toilet bowl and the pivot shaft and biased to yieldably hold the toilet seat in a desired position; (c) a gear secured to the pivot shaft; (d) an idler shaft; (e) a gear secured to the idler shaft engaging the gear on the pivot shaft; (f) and a slipping clutch connected to the idler shaft and connected to the toilet bowl to regulate the speed of rotation of the idler shaft as it is rotated by the spring acting on the pivot shaft, said slipping clutch permitting slippage when the toilet seat is manually rotated on the pivot shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A spring mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the clutch slippage is adjustable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A spring mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the clutch the has at least two slipping surfaces, and manually operated means for varying the pressure on the two slipping surfaces of the slipping clutch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US566621A
Cited
US900514A
Cited
US1529656A
Cited
US2074318A
Cited
US2164116A
Cited
US2305147A
Cited
FR1001099A
Cited
US2812522A
Cited
US2814049A
Cited
US2877469A
Cited
US4195372A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-05 | 1987-03-07 | 1987-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-05 | 1991-03-07 | 1991-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-05 | 1995-03-07 | 1995-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |