US4912783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toilet lid closing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-18
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Granted: 1990-04-03
•
Expires: 2008-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A toilet lid closing device for use on toilets of the type having a vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, has a torsional coil spring received around the hinge pin which biases the lid and the seat to a closed position. A channel shaped bracket has a horizontal mounting surface secured by the toilet seat mounting bolts, with perpendicularly attached parallel support legs for mounting end portions of a pair of dampening cylinders. An adjustment bracket allows independent adjustable positioning of the dampening cylinders. Each of the dampening cylinders has an extensible rod provided with a circumferential groove for engagement with a spring biased locking pin which retains the rod in a extended position. End portions of the extensible rods have journal bearing ends received on mounting pad axles secured to the underside of the lid and the seat. A sheathed cable is operatively connected to each of the locking pins for disengaging the pins from the grooves upon actuation of the flushing lever. A cable actuation bracket is secured on a side wall of the toilet tank and includes a slider mounted for linear reciprocal movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven E. Shafer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:27
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/02; E03D5/04; A; A47; A47K; A47K13/00; A47K13/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S16/00; Y10S16/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
In combination with a toilet including a generally vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat, and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, a toilet lid closing device comprising: spring means biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position; a channel bracket having an elongated mounting surface, a pair of parallel support legs perpendicularly attached at opposite ends of said mounting surface; said mounting surface secured on said toilet adjacent said hinge pin; an elongated slot formed in each of said support legs; a pair of spindles, each extending through one of said slots; an L-shaped bracket, on each of said spindles, each having a circular aperture receiving one of said spindles, said L-shaped brackets each having a first leg extending in parallel overlying relation with said support leg and a second transverse leg extending adjacent an end of said support leg; a stop screw extending through each of said L-shaped bracket transverse second legs for abutment with one of said support leg ends; a first dampening cylinder secured between one of said support legs and said seat for controlling closure of said seat; a second dampening cylinder secured between the other of said support legs and said lid for controlling closure of said lid; locking pin means on at least said dampening cylinder secured to said seat for retaining said lid and said seat in an open position; and cable means operatively connected for disengaging said locking pin means upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
In combination with a toilet including a generally vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat, and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, a toilet lid closing device comprising: spring means biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position; a channel bracket having an elongated mounting surface, a pair of parallel support legs perpendicularly attached at opposite ends of said mounting surface; said mounting surface secured on said toilet adjacent said hinge pin; an elongated slot formed in each of said support legs; a pair of spindles, each extending through one of said slots; an L-shaped bracket, on each of said spindles, each having a circular aperture receiving one of said spindles, said L-shaped brackets each having a first leg extending in parallel overlying relation with said support leg and a second transverse leg extending adjacent an end of said support leg; a stop screw extending through each of said L-shaped bracket transverse second legs for abutment with one of said support leg ends; a first dampening cylinder secured between one of said support legs and said seat for controlling closure of said seat; a second dampening cylinder secured between the other of said support legs and said lid for controlling closure of said lid; locking pin means on at least said dampening cylinder secured to said seat for retaining said lid and said seat in an open position; and cable means operatively connected for disengaging said locking pin means upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein each of said dampening cylinders have a first end pivotally mounted on one of said spindles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises: a torsional coil spring received around said hinge pin, one end of said spring secured to said toilet and an opposite end of said spring secured to said lid and biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
In combination with a toilet including a generally vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat, and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, a toilet lid closing device comprising: spring means biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position; a bracket secured adjacent to said hinge pin; dampening cylinder means mounted on said bracket and having at least one extensible rod operatively connected for controlling closure of said seat and lid; locking pin means on said dampening cylinder means for retaining said lid and said seat in an open position; said extensible rod having a circumferential groove for engagement with said locking pin means; and cable means operatively connected for disengaging said locking pin means from said circumferential groove upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
In combination with a toilet including a generally vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat, and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, a toilet lid closing device comprising: spring means biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position; a bracket secured adjacent to said hinge pin; dampening cylinder means mounted on said bracket and having at least one extensible rod operatively connected for controlling closure of said seat and lid; locking pin means on said dampening cylinder means for retaining said lid and said seat in an open position; said extensible rod having a circumferential groove for engagement with said locking pin means; and cable means operatively connected for disengaging said locking pin means from said circumferential groove upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 4, further comprising spring means biasing said locking pin means into engagement with said circumferential groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said cable means comprises: a cable actuating bracket secured on a side wall of said tank, said cable actuating bracket having a pair of threaded apertures securing threaded end portions of cable sheaths; a slider mounted for linear reciprocal movement on said bracket, end portions of said cables secured to said slider; and an actuating cable extending between said flushing lever and said slider for releasing said locking pin means upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 4, wherein said spring means comprises: a torsional coil spring received around said hinge pin, one end of said spring secured to said toilet and an opposite end of said spring secured to said lid and biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
199 words
In combination with a toilet including a generally vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat, and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, a toilet lid closing device comprising: spring means biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position; a bracket secured adjacent to said hinge pin; dampening cylinder means mounted on said bracket and having at least one extensible rod operatively connected for controlling closure of said seat and lid; locking pin means on said dampening cylinder means for retaining said lid and said seat in an open position; a cable actuating bracket secured on a side wall of said tank, said cable actuating bracket having at least one threaded aperture, at least one cable sheath having a threaded end portion secured in said aperture, said cable sheath having a slidable cable therein; a slider mounted for linear reciprocal movement on said bracket, a first end portion of said cable secured to said slider, an opposite end portion of said cable secured to said locking pin means; and an actuating cable extending between said flushing lever and said slider for releasing said locking pin means upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
199 words
In combination with a toilet including a generally vertical tank with a flushing lever, a bowl, a seat, and an overlying lid pivotally mounted by a hinge pin, a toilet lid closing device comprising: spring means biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position; a bracket secured adjacent to said hinge pin; dampening cylinder means mounted on said bracket and having at least one extensible rod operatively connected for controlling closure of said seat and lid; locking pin means on said dampening cylinder means for retaining said lid and said seat in an open position; a cable actuating bracket secured on a side wall of said tank, said cable actuating bracket having at least one threaded aperture, at least one cable sheath having a threaded end portion secured in said aperture, said cable sheath having a slidable cable therein; a slider mounted for linear reciprocal movement on said bracket, a first end portion of said cable secured to said slider, an opposite end portion of said cable secured to said locking pin means; and an actuating cable extending between said flushing lever and said slider for releasing said locking pin means upon actuation of said flushing lever.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 8, wherein said dampening cylinder means comprises a first dampening cylinder connected to said lid and a second dampening cylinder connected to said seat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 8, wherein said spring means comprises: a torsional coil spring received around said hinge pin, one end of said spring secured to said toilet and an opposite end of said spring secured to said lid and biasing said lid and said seat to a closed position.
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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) | 1993-04-02 | 1993-10-02 | 1994-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-02 | 1997-10-02 | 1998-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-02 | 2001-10-02 | 2002-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |