Elevated toilet seat

Abstract

An improved elevated hinged toilet seat with lid of simple construction and ease of installation.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part application of the U.S. patent application entitled “Elevated Toilet Seat”, filed May 25, 2007 and assigned Ser. No. 11 / 807,052; which is a continuation-in-part application of the provisional patent application entitled “Elevated Toilet Seat”, filed Aug. 14, 2006 and assigned Ser. No. 60 / 837,134.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]The present invention relates to toilet seats. In particular, it relates to an improved elevated hinged toilet seat of simple manufacture and ease of installation.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Various toilet seats are known in the art. Cope, U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,927, issued Dec. 21, 1915, is directed to a stamped metal closet seat with a concave bottom and corresponding convex top seat surface (Col 1, lines 54-56 embossed to extend oppositely from their meeting plane). This Cope concave undersurface creates a hollow, which if not supported allows the lip ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The toilet seat has a plurality of spaced around pedestals formed into its flat planar bottom, which contact the rim of the toilet bowl and raise the toilet seat approximately two or more inches, when mounted, to make it easier for a user sitting down and getting up. The number of pedestals is dependent upon the tensile strength and length of the toilet. The number required is reduced as the tensile strength of the toilet seat increases. Conversely, the number increases as the length of the toilet seat increases. For example, for solid plastic single piece construction, usually only two pedestals at the front of the toilet seat are required to hold the weight of a typical user. Two front pedestals are also only required for particle board seats with internal linear steel reinforcement structure. However, for longer toilet seat models or for heavy duty use, additional pedestals are symmetrically spaced around the flat planar bottom. The ends of the pedestals have rubber cushions on their bottoms to contact the rim of the toilet bowl and prevent slippage when in use.

[0020]The pedestals and toilet seat are of unitary construction. A single piece toilet seat with pedestals provides a rigid construction, which will not come apart during use and is easy to clean. Single piece construction is also quicker to install, and avoids problems with shipping missing parts, or misplacement of parts during assembly.

[0023]In still another preferred embodiment, the toilet seat is constructed out of composite wood and plastic embedded with internal steel reinforcement structure to provide sufficient tensile strength to minimize the number of pedestals required to spread the weight load of a user.

[0025]The present invention is therefore particularly adapted to provide for the needs of the elderly who have trouble rising from a conventional toilet seat. It is inexpensive to make, is readily cleaned, and can be installed without special tools to raise the toilet seat height when attached to a conventional toilet bowl.

Problems solved by technology

This would result in lugs of a height which makes the mounted seat unstable, causing it to slide off the toilet bowl during use with possible injury to the user.

Further, the Cope concave undersurface associated with lugs is difficult to clean, presenting a sanitation problem.

In addition, the Cope hinges with cast metal screws are unsightly and would place too much strain on the vitreous toilet bowl making it subject to braking.

The Cope stamped sheet metal seat would also not be strong enough to support portly users, making it likely to bend.

If made of cast metal to prevent bending, the cost and weight would be prohibitive.

Nor is the Cope metal seat comfortable as it is cold to the touch.

Consequently, the Plonta kits require fasteners to affix the lift blocks to the toilet seat bottom surface, which may wobble or have difficulty being secured to the undersides of toilet seats.

In addition relying on an adhesive or screws, or both, to secure them to the underside of the toilet seat is impractical.

If screwed into the plastic seats, the seats are too brittle to provide a good hold.

They also are generally positioned toward the front and / or rear of the toilet seat, subjecting the toilet seat to extreme tensile breaking stress; particularly with the composite wood and plastic seats, which have no internal seat reinforcement structure.

As elderly users are now heavier and heavier, the likelihood of injury from toilet seat breakage is present when the Plonta kit places front and real block mounting on the composite wood and plastic conventional seat.

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