US4433442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toilet seat and cover operating device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-04-12
•
Granted: 1984-02-28
•
Expires: 2002-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for operating the seat and cover of a flushing toilet having a flushing tank, comprising a pair of floats installed in the flushing tank and capable of ascending and descending in the flushing tank, the floats being operatively connected with the seat and cover so that the seat and cover are raised to an upright position when the floats ascend, and lowered when the floats descend. The device further comprises holding levers adapted to hold the floats submerged in the water in the flushing tank. The holding levers are operable by hand to release the floats thus allowing the floats to buoy up or ascend and consequently raise the seat and cover, which are then lowered when the water in the flushing tank is drained to flush the toilet and the floats descend with the descending water level.
Inventors
- 👤 Shu L. Liou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:32
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K13/00; A47K13/10; E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/02; E03D5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device, comprising: (a) a float member capable of floating on water and installed in a flushing tank for a toilet bowl, said float member being capable of moving up and down in the flushing tank; (b) connecting means for operatively connecting said float member to the seat/cover of the toilet bowl so as to raise and lower the toilet seat/cover in association with the upward and downward movements of said float member; (c) holding means for latching said float member when said float member moves down to a lowermost position and holding it submerged when said flushing tank is filled with water; and (d) releasing means for causing said holding means to release said float member from being latched to enable said float member to buoy up through the water in the flushing tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device, comprising: (a) a float member capable of floating on water and installed in a flushing tank for a toilet bowl, said float member being capable of moving up and down in the flushing tank; (b) connecting means for operatively connecting said float member to the seat/cover of the toilet bowl so as to raise and lower the toilet seat/cover in association with the upward and downward movements of said float member; (c) holding means for latching said float member when said float member moves down to a lowermost position and holding it submerged when said flushing tank is filled with water; and (d) releasing means for causing said holding means to release said float member from being latched to enable said float member to buoy up through the water in the flushing tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a connecting member having an upper and lower end, said upper end being operatively connected to said float member, said lower end operatively connected to the seat/cover with an arm fixedly connected to the seat/cover with a rod or sleeve means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 2, wherein said arm is provided with a counterweight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 2, wherein said rod or sleeve means is provided with a resilient urging means to partially offset the weight of the toilet seat/cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as recited in claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein said flushing tank is further provided with an overflow tube, a tubular post having a height higher than said overflow tube, said tubular post having a lower end fixedly connected to the bottom of said flushing tank and an interior communicating with the outer side of the bottom of said flushing tank, and said connecting member is disposed in said tubular post.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float member and holding means are mounted onto the flushing tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float member and holding means are mounted on a frame capable of being placed on top of the casing of the flushing tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 7, wherein said float member is provided with an extension rod which is pivotally mounted onto said frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 7, wherein said float member is provided with two parallel links pivotally connecting said float member with said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, 6 or 7 wherein said float member is accommodated in a compartment separated by a partition in the casing of the flushing tank, said partition having a height lower than the height of said overflow pipe, said compartment having a flushing valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, 6 or 7 wherein said float member is guided with guide means adapted to guide said float member in moving up and down.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float member is provided with an extension rod which is pivotally mounted onto said flushing tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float member is provided with two parallel links pivotally connecting said float member with said casing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-27 | 1987-08-29 | 1988-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-27 | 1991-08-29 | 1992-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-27 | 1995-08-29 | 1996-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |