Elevated toilet seat and method of assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a raised toilet seat comprising a front portion (2) and two wing portions (3, 4), the end portions of the wing portions being separated by a gap before the raised toilet seat is assembled, the free end of one of the two wing portions (3) having a channel-shaped portion equipped with notches (9, 10) and the free end of the other of the two wing portions (4) having an opening (12) for receiving the channel-shaped portion and ridges (13, 14, 15, 16) for retaining the notches (9, 10), and a method for assembling and removing the raised toilet seat.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a raised toilet seat and to a method for assembling it. BACKGROUND

[0002] The raised toilet seats are usually made of two injection-moulded plastic shells assembled or of a plastic component obtained by rotational moulding.

[0003] Document KR20120081854 describes a raised toilet seat comprising a front portion and two wing portions, the end portions of which are separated by a gap, the free end of one of the two wing portions having a channel section equipped with a notch and the other of the two wing portions having an opening for receiving the channel section and a ridge for retaining the notch.

[0004] In order to fix the raised seat on the toilet bowl, it is known practice to use screws which press against the toilet bowl from the outside. These screws, usually three, are placed on the front and on the sides of the toilet bowl. In another embodiment, the raised seat is equipped with fixing tabs, for example four, which are removable and each comprise a tongue which is manually guided for assembly.

[0005] All these embodiments involve some accessories which need to be manipulated in order to assemble the raised seat and to remove it for cleaning purposes. In addition, the shape of the raised seat usually does not correspond exactly to that of the toilet bowl, which makes the accessories necessary, increases the cost of the raised seat and makes the assembly more complex, increasing the risk of errors and accidents. SUMMARY

[0006] One of the aims of the present invention is to propose a raised seat (raised toilet seat) which does not present the aforementioned drawbacks and which allows a quick and easy assembly and a certain stability on the toilet bowl.

[0007] Another aim of the present invention is to propose a raised seat in which the constituent parts are simplified and fewer in number.

[0008] Another aim of the present invention is to propose a raised seat which is easy to remove and clean, thus reducing the risk of bacteria.

[0009] One aspect of the invention provides a raised toilet seat comprising a front portion and two wings, the ends of which are separated by a gap before the raised seat is assembled, the free end of one of the two wings having a channel equipped with a notch and the other of the two wings having an opening for receiving the channel and a ridge for retaining the notch, characterized in that the channel has a flat bottom and side walls which are parallel to each other and in that the notch is located on the outer face of the side walls near the free end of the side walls and in that the channel comprises a flap hinged to the free end of the flat bottom, the flap being able to be jammed between the side walls in order to lock the side walls in a position parallel to each other.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the raised seat comprises a front lip which presses laterally against the front portion of the toilet body and two side lips which press laterally against the side portions of the toilet body.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the notch has a front face which is inclined so that the notch is easier to pass over the ridge and a rear face which is substantially perpendicular to the corresponding one of the side walls so that the notch is retained by the ridge.

[0012] Another aspect of the invention provides a method for assembling the aforementioned raised seat, characterized by the following steps:

[0013] Pivoting the flap towards the outside of the channel;

[0014] Inserting the channel which the one wing of the raised seat has into the opening which the other wing of the raised seat has until the position marked by the visible marking;

[0015] Pivoting the flap towards the inside of the channel in order to lock the side walls of the channel in an opposite position;

[0016] Placing the raised seat on the toilet body with the front lip pressed against the front side portion of the toilet body; and

[0017] Bringing the wings of the raised seat closer together using manual pressure, causing the channel to advance further in the opening and the notch to move past the ridge until the side lips are pressed against the side portions of the toilet body.

[0018] Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method for removing the raised seat assembled according to the aforementioned method, characterized by the following steps:

[0019] Removing the raised seat from the toilet body by pulling it vertically;

[0020] Turning the raised seat over;

[0021] Pivoting the flap towards the outside of the channel;

[0022] the side walls of the slot-shaped portion between the two wings of the riser are gripped and brought closer to each other so as to disengage the notch from the ridge; and

[0023] The elasticity of the riser allows the end portions of the wings to spring apart. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 a perspective view of one embodiment of a riser according to the invention before assembly is depicted;

[0026] Figure 2 a view from above of one embodiment of a riser according to the invention before assembly is depicted;

[0027] Figure 3 a view from below of Figure 2 the riser before assembly is depicted;

[0028] Figure 4 a partial perspective view of the attachment slot-shaped portion of the riser before assembly is depicted from below;

[0029] Figure 5 a partial perspective view of the slot-shaped portion from below after initial insertion of the attachment slot-shaped portion is depicted;

[0030] Figure 6 a partial perspective view of the slot-shaped portion of the riser from below after the side walls of the attachment slot-shaped portion have been locked in position by the flaps is depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The invention relates to a riser 1 made of molded plastic, which is intended to be placed and fixed on a generally oval toilet body and which has a gap in the rear before assembly. The riser 1 has a front 2 and between this front 2 and the gap in the rear two mutually symmetrical curved wings 3, 4.

[0032] At the free end of the first of these wings 3 there is a slot-shaped portion 5 comprising a flat bottom 6 at the top and two side walls 7, 8.

[0033] On the top surface of the flat bottom 6 of the slot-shaped portion 5 there is a visible marking 28.

[0034] The side walls 7, 8 are parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the flat bottom 6. The side walls 7, 8 and the flat bottom 6 have substantially the same width, which means that the cross section of the trough 5 is substantially square. Each of the side walls 7, 8 has, near its free end and on its outer face, a series of equally spaced notches 9, 10. The side walls 7, 8 and the flat bottom 6 are elastic and the free edges of the side walls 7, 8 can be brought closer together by manual pressure.

[0035] A substantially square flap 11 is hinged to the free edge at the end of the flat bottom 6, the flap 11 being able to be caught between the side walls 7, 8 in order to lock the side walls 7, 8 in a position parallel to each other, preventing the side walls 7, 8 from moving closer together, in order to prevent the booster seat from opening accidentally and to keep it in place. Advantageously, each of the inner faces of the side walls 7, 8 has an end stop 29 on which the flap 11 can bear. In this position, the flap 11 bears on the end stop 29 to act as a lock. The flap 11 can also be pivoted towards the outside of the trough 5 and leave the side walls 7, 8 free in order to manually bring the side walls 7, 8 closer together.

[0036] The end of the second wing 4 of the booster seat has a substantially square opening 12 which can receive the trough 5. Behind the opening 12, each side of the wing 4 has two lateral ridges 13, 14 and two lateral ridges 15, 16 respectively, which are spaced apart by the same distance as the notches 9, 10 of the trough 5, and in the central part of the wing 4, two ribs 17, 18 which can bear the flat bottom 6. The opening 12 comprises a crosspiece 19 for guiding the free ends of the side walls 7, 8 of the trough 5.

[0037] In order to hold the booster seat 1 stably on the toilet body, the booster seat 1 comprises a lip for pressing against the outer lateral surface of the toilet body, the lip comprising a front lip 20 for pressing laterally against the front of the toilet body and two side lips 21, 22 for pressing laterally against the sides of the toilet body.

[0038] The booster seat 1 has a hollow structure comprising a partition wall bearing on the toilet body, the partition wall being arranged symmetrically under the two wings 3, 4 of the booster seat, the partition wall comprising a partition wall 23 towards the front and a partition wall 24, 25 towards the rear, below the widest point.

[0039] The booster seat 1 is moulded in a single piece.

[0040] The booster seat 1 is assembled to the toilet body in a simple manner.

[0041] First, the flap 11 is pivoted towards the outside of the channel section 5 and the channel section 5 is inserted into the opening 12 until the position marked by the visible marking 28. Then the flap 20 is pivoted back towards the inside of the channel section 5 to lock the side walls 7, 8 of the channel section 5 in their relative position. The riser seat 1 is placed on the toilet body and the front lip 20 of the riser seat presses against the front side of the toilet body. The wings 3, 4, which are separated from each other at the gap at the back of the riser seat, overhang (project) relative to the side (flanks) of the toilet body.

[0042] Then, the wings 3, 4 are pushed together manually. The lateral pressure exerted on the wings 3, 4 causes the channel section 5 to enter further into the opening 12 until the side lips 21, 22 press laterally against the sides of the toilet body. During this advance, the notches 9, 10 of the side walls 7, 8 of the channel section 5 pass over the ridges 13, 14, 15, 16, each time passing over a ridge, the side walls 7, 8 are squeezed closer together. To facilitate the passage, the notches 9, 10 have inclined front faces 26 and, to keep the notches in place after passing over the ridges, the notches have rear faces 27 which are substantially perpendicular to the respective walls 7, 8. During this advance, the entire structure of the riser seat elastically deforms. At the end of the advance, the riser seat is held in a stable position on the toilet body by the front lip 20 and the side lips 21, 22 which press against the sides of the toilet body.

[0043] The riser seat is removed from the toilet body by pulling vertically. After turning the riser seat upside down, the flap 11 is pivoted out of the channel section 5 manually, then both side walls 7, 8 are manually gripped near their free ends and the free ends are moved closer together to disengage the notches 9, 10 from the ridges 13, 14, 15, 16. The elasticity of the riser seat allows the ends of the wings 3, 4 to be elastically separated and a gap to be created at the back of the riser seat.

[0044] The assembly of the riser seat by simply clamping the notches 9, 10 on the ridges 13, 14, 15, 16 allows the riser seat to be adapted to the dimensions of the toilet body. The elasticity of the structure of the riser seat allows, on the one hand, the riser seat to be adapted to the toilet body and, on the other hand, the riser seat to be easily removed, in particular in the case of cleaning the riser seat.

Claims

1. A raised toilet seat comprising a front part (2) and two wings (3, 4), the ends of which are separated by a gap before the raised toilet seat is assembled, the free end of one of the two wings (3) having a channel-shaped part (5) equipped with notches (9, 10) and the free end of the other of the two wings (4) having an opening (12) for receiving the channel-shaped part and ridges (13, 14, 15, 16) for retaining the notches (9, 10), characterized in that, The said slot (5) has a flat bottom (6) and side walls (7, 8) which are parallel to each other and the said notches (9, 10) are located on the outer faces of the said side walls and near the free ends of the said side walls, and the said slot (5) comprises a flap (11) hinged to the free end of the said flat bottom (6), which can be clamped between the said side walls in order to lock the said side walls in a position parallel to each other.

2. The raised toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein, The said raised toilet seat comprises a front lip (20) which is pressed laterally against the front of the toilet body and two side lips (21, 22) which are pressed laterally against the sides of the said toilet body.

3. The raised toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein, The said notches (9, 10) have a front face (26) which is inclined in order to make the said notches easier to pass over the said ridges (13, 14, 15, 16) and a rear face (27) which is substantially perpendicular to the corresponding one of the said side walls (7, 8) in order to be retained by the said ridges.

4. A method for assembling a raised toilet seat according to claim 2, characterized by the following steps: - pivoting the said flap (11) towards the outside of the said slot (5); - inserting the said slot (5) which one of the said wings (3) of the said raised toilet seat (1) has into the said opening (12) which the other wing (4) of the said raised toilet seat (1) has until the position marked by the visible mark (28); - pivoting the said flap (11) towards the inside of the said slot in order to lock the said side walls (7, 8) of the said slot (5) in their relative position; - placing the said raised toilet seat (1) on the said toilet body with the said front lip pressed against the front side of the said toilet body; and - using manual pressure to bring the said wings (3, 4) of the said raised toilet seat closer together, to advance the said slot (5) further in the said opening (12) and to move the said notches (9, 10) over the said ridges (13, 14, 15, 16) until the said side lips (21, 22) are pressed against the sides of the said toilet body.

5. A method for removing a raised toilet seat assembled according to the method of claim 4, characterized by the following steps: - removing the said raised toilet seat (1) from the said toilet body by pulling it vertically; - turning the said raised toilet seat (1) over; - pivoting the said flap (11) towards the said outside of the said slot (5); - gripping the said side walls (7, 8) of the said slot (5) between the two said wings (3, 4) of the said raised toilet seat (1) and bringing the said side walls closer to each other in order to disengage the said notches (9, 10) from the said ridges (13, 14, 15, 16); and - allowing the elasticity of the said raised toilet seat to spring the said ends of the said wings (3, 4) apart. ​

Images