Self-Sustaining Toilet Seat Hinge With Splined Pintle Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toilet seat hinge assemblies fail to maintain the seat and cover in any raised position or angle against gravity effectively, lacking self-sustaining mechanisms that prevent rotation and ensure secure positioning.
Innovation Solution
A self-sustaining hinge assembly featuring a pintle with a splined portion that engages the inner surface of the hinge post to prevent rotation, combined with non-splined portions for interference fit, allowing the seat and cover to be maintained in any position between raised and lowered states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hinge assembly is used, then the seat and cover can pivot between lowered and raised positions, but the assembly cannot maintain the seat and cover in any raised position or angle against gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the pintle by adding splines to its outer surface. These splines engage with corresponding splines in the hinge post bore, creating a self-sustaining mechanism that can maintain the seat and cover at any angle against gravity. This parameter change (adding splines) transforms a simple pivot hinge into a self-sustaining hinge without requiring additional components or complex mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a splined pintle is used to prevent rotation, then the pintle cannot rotate relative to the hinge post, but the manufacturing precision required for the splined engagement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite approach by combining the splined pintle (typically metal) with the hinge post (which may be plastic or metal), creating a durable splined engagement that prevents rotation. The spline geometry is designed to provide sufficient engagement strength while accommodating reasonable manufacturing tolerances, balancing rotational prevention with manufacturability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bore diameter of the hinge post is different from the bore diameter of the seat, then a multi-diameter pintle is required, but the manufacturing complexity of the pintle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pintle into distinct portions with different diameters - a first portion for engagement with the seat bore and a second portion for engagement with the hinge post bore. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a relatively simple overall manufacturing process, as the different diameters can be created through standard machining or molding operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the seat and cover can be maintained in any position against gravity, providing secure and stable operation by preventing unwanted pivotal movement without user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The pintle includes a splined portion that engages the splined inner surface of the hinge post to prevent rotation of the pintle relative to the hinge post
Implementation Method 2
The non-splined portion engages the inner surface of the other of the seat and the hinge post
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly for a toilet having a bowl and a seat includes a hinge post configured to mount to the bowl. The hinge post includes a splined inner surface defining a bore. The hinge assembly also includes a pintle extending through the bore and configured to engage the seat to pivotally couple the seat to the hinge post. The pintle includes a splined portion that engages the splined inner surface of the hinge post to prevent rotation of the pintle relative to the hinge post.