US5267356A — Commode seat lowering apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 325 words

A commode seat lowering apparatus arranged for communication with a commode having a seat and a commode top wall, with a fluid tank mounted to the commode top wall in adjacency to the commode seat, the commode seat being movable between substantially vertical up and substantially horizontal down positions, wherein the apparatus comprises, a control housing, the control housing having opposing side walls, with a control rod rotatably mounted between the side walls, and a torsion spring mounted between the control rod and control housing for rotatably biasing the control rod in a first direction, and a control rod gear mounted to the control rod spaced from the torsion spring, and a commode seat gear in communication with the control rod gear, with the commode seat gear having a gear hub fixedly mounted to the commode seat gear, with the gear hub projecting through one of said control housing side walls, and a commode seat arm mounted to the hub and adapted to be mounted to the commode seat, a further commode seat arm rotatably mounted to the other of said control housing side walls and adapted to be mounted to the commode seat, and a control rod inner gear spaced relative to the control rod gear fixedly mounted to the control rod, and an elongate cylinder housing mounted within the control housing, wherein the cylinder housing longitudinal axis is arranged parallel relative to the control rod, with a rotary shaft rotatably mounted along the longitudinal axis of and through the cylinder housing, the cylinder housing having a first end wall spaced from a second end wall, with the rotary shaft having a rotary shaft gear in communication with the control rod inner gear, and dampening means mounted to the rotary shaft within the cylinder housing to dampen descent of the commode seat from the up position to the down position with the commode seat being biased from the up position by said torsion spring.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 325 words

A commode seat lowering apparatus arranged for communication with a commode having a seat and a commode top wall, with a fluid tank mounted to the commode top wall in adjacency to the commode seat, the commode seat being movable between substantially vertical up and substantially horizontal down positions, wherein the apparatus comprises, a control housing, the control housing having opposing side walls, with a control rod rotatably mounted between the side walls, and a torsion spring mounted between the control rod and control housing for rotatably biasing the control rod in a first direction, and a control rod gear mounted to the control rod spaced from the torsion spring, and a commode seat gear in communication with the control rod gear, with the commode seat gear having a gear hub fixedly mounted to the commode seat gear, with the gear hub projecting through one of said control housing side walls, and a commode seat arm mounted to the hub and adapted to be mounted to the commode seat, a further commode seat arm rotatably mounted to the other of said control housing side walls and adapted to be mounted to the commode seat, and a control rod inner gear spaced relative to the control rod gear fixedly mounted to the control rod, and an elongate cylinder housing mounted within the control housing, wherein the cylinder housing longitudinal axis is arranged parallel relative to the control rod, with a rotary shaft rotatably mounted along the longitudinal axis of and through the cylinder housing, the cylinder housing having a first end wall spaced from a second end wall, with the rotary shaft having a rotary shaft gear in communication with the control rod inner gear, and dampening means mounted to the rotary shaft within the cylinder housing to dampen descent of the commode seat from the up position to the down position with the commode seat being biased from the up position by said torsion spring.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 149 words

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pivotal lock lever is arranged for communication with the inner gear for selective latching of the inner gear, a cable having a cable first end mounted to the lock lever, the cable directed through a cable sheath, and a float housing adapted to be mounted within the fluid tank, with a float member mounted within the float housing, and the cable having a cable second end mounted to the float member, the cable sheath mounted between the control housing and the float housing, whereupon flushing of fluid from the fluid tank effects lowering of the float member within the float housing and displacement of the cable within the cable sheath to effect pivoting of the lock lever and disengagement of the lock lever relative to the inner gear to permit rotation of the control rod by the torsion spring.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 192 words

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the dampening means includes a rotary shaft cylinder head mounted to the rotary shaft and extending from the cylinder housing second end wall to a spaced relationship relative to the cylinder housing first end wall, and a piston arranged for receiving the rotary shaft cylinder head, and a helical groove directed into the rotary shaft cylinder head, the piston having a piston skirt, the piston skirt having a piston skirt projection, with the piston skirt projection arranged in engagement with the helical groove, and a spring interposed between the piston and the cylinder housing first end wall, whereupon rotation of the rotary shaft upon descent of the commode seat from the up position to the down position effects movement of the piston towards the cylinder housing first end wall, and a sealing ring mounted to the piston to sealingly contain fluid pressure within the cylinder housing between the piston and the cylinder housing first end wall, and valve means mounted to the cylinder housing to permit selective pressure relief from the cylinder housing between the piston and the cylinder housing first end wall.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 93 words

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the valve means includes a valve mounted to the cylinder housing in communication with the cylinder housing, having a valve bore in communication with the cylinder housing, the valve bore having conical threads, and a resilient insert shank directed into the conical threads, with the resilient insert shank including cylindrical threads, and a shank bore directed through the shank, whereupon projection and rotation of the insert shank within the conical threads effects constriction of the shank bore and pressure relief through the shank bore.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-12-06	1997-06-07	1997-12-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-12-06	2001-06-07	2001-12-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-12-06	2005-06-07	2005-12-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Commode seat lowering apparatus

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