Device to automatically lower a lifted toilet seat

Claim 1

Apparatus for moving a hinged toilet seat or toilet cover from an open generally upright position on one side of the vertical plane of its hinge, to a lowered position on the bowl on the other side of the vertical plane of the hinge, by forcing the seat or lid through an overcenter position on the hinge to then pivot to the lowered position by gravity, said apparatus comprising, a hollow collapsible device containing air at ambient pressure, a check valve associated with the device for permitting rapid expelling of air from the device in response to compression and collapsing thereof, said hollow device including resilient means for expanding the device to its original shape, means for mounting said collapsible device at a location adjacent an upright surface such that the device is suffiently compressed and collapsed by the upper surface of the lid or seat upon movement thereof to the generally upright position so that the lid or seat remains in the upright position, an air bleed means associated with the collapsible device for permitting the device to reinflate slowly within a predetermined period of time after it is collapsed, said device being so mounted and of such an inflated size that the seat or lid is forced to said over-center position and descends as said device expands to its original shape.