GB2491368A

GB2491368A - Toilet seat and lid assembly with adjustable rest

Info

Publication number: GB2491368A
Application number: GB1109132.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Mark Shepherd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-01
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2012-12-05
Also published as: GB201109132D0

Abstract

A toilet seat and lid assembly comprises adjustable pull-out frame sections connected thereto to allow increased surface utility of the assembly for providing a seat, bench, stool, shelf, or aerating platform in combination with the toilet seat and lid assembly. Preferably, the pull-out frame sections consist of a core section 1 which is housed within the toilet seat lid 2, with a subsequent secondary section 3, foldably attached thereto. Additional sections can be added in other embodiments such as those shown in Figure 6. The core section 1 may be connected to the secondary section 3 by means of a swiveling mechanism 4 which allows at least 90Â° movement, to make a seat configuration. A further swiveling mechanism 5 permits a configuration for shelving applications (Figure 2). The swiveling mechanisms are preferably secured by a locking device, such as a wing-nut and bolt 6. The lid 2 may be a permeable lattice grid to allow drying of items placed thereupon, or the lid may comprise a second lid, through which wet item may drip water into the toilet bowl (Figures 3-4).

Description

I

Improvement to Toilet Seat This invention relates to a toilet seat device that provides additional space for resting upon and that may also be shaped to provide a space to enable the aeration of items or the resting of items upon.

Currently, a toilet seat provide a limited space for a person to use as a seat, stool, or rest items upon; and provides no generally recognised facility to aerate items upon. This limits effective use of the space, particularly in such instances as busy family bathrooms, where space and utility are prized, and where separate stools can be either dangerously unstable, or impractical due to their relative dimensions.

To improve upon this situation the present device provides a toilet seat with connected and adjustable pull-out sections allowing increased surface utility.

Accordingly, the present device provides a multi-purpose structure that extends, and is shaped and adjusted to create an additional seat, bench, stool, storage shelf, or aerating platform.

Preferably, the structure extends in one direction, horizontally from its housing in the toilet seat lid so that the device is concealed when not in use.

The structure preferably consists of at least two sections; the core' section housed within the toilet seat lid, with a secondary' section folding out from its housing within the core' to maximise space and storage, although additional sections can be included to increase utility in alternative embodiments.

Preferably, at the point where the core' section has fully extended from the toilet lid, the user is presented with an adjustable swivelling mechanism capable of movement in at least 9Q0 either direction from the horizontal. The secondary' section is connected to the core' section by a similar swivel mechanism. These swivelling mechanism providing the user with a facility to affix this adjustment to the desired degree, preferably by means of a locking screw device, but similar locking or affixing mechanisms can be used. The user can then position the adjustable sections to create a structure for seating, standing upon, additional bench space, an aerating shelf, and in alternative embodiments, additional shelf capacity.

The sections are preferably prevented from fully exiting the toilet lid housing and falling or causing an obstruction by means of a slat, pin, or other similar flange on either side of the housing, with corresponding slats on the core section, but similar mechanisms can be used.

In an additional embodiment, the upper surface of the toilet seat lid can be designed to be permeable or provided with a lid of its own, allowing for the resting and aeration of extremely damp or wet items to be placed on the device, which can then allow for the resulting moisture to drip off the items, and pass through the device into the water in the toilet bowl, below the toilet seat.

A description of the means by which the device can be embodied, constructed, and the outcomes achieved is now provided by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment with the device adjusted into an additional space usable as a seat or bench; Figure 2 shows the preferred embodiment with the device adjusted into an aerating shelf; Figure 3 shows a suggested additional embodiment allowing saturated items to drip through the device into the toilet bowl.

Figure 4 shows an alternative suggested additional embodiment allowing saturated items to drip through the device into the toilet bowl.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment with the device adjusted with a solid shelf; and Figure 6 shows an example of an alternative embodiment with multiple sections adjusted to provide both an additional seat and hanging spaces for aerating items.

In Figure 1, the core section, 1, is shown extended to the right out of its housing within toilet lid, 2. This is by way of example, and indeed the design of the device is to allow for extension in any other horizontal direction, except it is anticipated that this would not include extension to the side on which a cistern, or pipe system precluded this.

The core section, 1, is connected to a secondary section, 3, which is smaller and shaped to fold out from its housing within the larger core section once extended. Additional sections can be added to the design, with each section being smaller than the preceding, limiting the ultimate number of additional sections.

Each section is connected to another by means of a swivelling mechanism, 4, which is preferably achieved by a hinge, bracket, or similarly adjustable and swivelling mechanism.

As shown, this mechanism, 4, allows for movement in at least 900 below the horizontal, to enable positioning of a seat with the secondary section, 3, acting as a support at right angles beneath, but in all other instances and applications of the device, the swivelling mechanisms will be required to provide movement in at least 90° in either direction.

The core section, 1, exhibits a second swivelling mechanism, 5, at the point where the section is fully extended from the toilet lid, 2. For the bench, no adjustment is required from the position in which it is extended from its housing. Adjustment and tightening of the swivelling mechanism, 4 and 5, is made through use of a locking screw device, such as a wing-nut and bolt, 6, although similar locking or affixing mechanisms can be employed.

To secure the extension at the edge of the toilet lid, the core section, 1, is prevented from exiting the toilet lid housing, 2, preferably by flanges on either side of the housing, with corresponding slats on the core section, 7, as to prevent complete removal. This preferred method ensures stability within the exiting plain, but this can also be achieved by other arrangements of slats, flanges, pins, or similar mechanisms. It is also envisaged that this could also be achieved by means of a runner, rail, or similar slide-based mechanism.

Posterior-shaped indentations, 8, can be added to provide comfort for sitting purposes, but variations of this design can be applied.

The secondary' section, 3, is preferably made to consist of at least two parallel struts, 9, connected by at least three perpendicular rods, 10, firstly to allowing for the attachment of to the bordering core section, a second and third to promote stability, or potentially to add additional sections in alternative embodiments. However, other shapes, number of perpendicular rods, or even single solid forms are also possible.

Preferably, the structure is made of wood with metal, or plastic with metal, but may be made of a combination, or other materials, but the material should be sufficiently strong to be suitable for bearing the load of a person to recognised acceptance standards, should it be offered with this implied utility.

In Figure 2, the core section, 1, is shown in example extended to one side out of its housing within toilet lid, 2.

As shown, this mechanism, 4, allows for movement in at least 9Qo to enable positioning of the secondary section, 3, at right angles.

The core section, 1, exhibits a second swivelling mechanism, 5, at the point where the section is fully extended from the toilet lid, 2. As shown, for positioning as an aerating shelf, adjustment is required in at least 9Q0 above the horizontal from the position in which it is extended from its housing to enable use as a vertical support to the secondary section.

Adjustment and tightening of the swivelling mechanisms, 4 and 5, is made through use of a locking screw device, such as a wing-nut and bolt, 6, although similar locking or affixing mechanisms can be employed.

The secondary' section, 3, is preferably made to consist of at least two parallel struts, 9, connected by at least three perpendicular rods, 10, firstly to allowing for the attachment of to the bordering core section, 1, a second and third to use as hanging spaces allowing items to be placed upon them or used for aeration. However, other shapes, number of perpendicular rods, or even single solid forms are also possible. In alternative embodiments, the struts and rods, 9 and 10, can also be used to add additional sections.

Preferably, the structure is made of wood with metal, or plastic with metal, but may be made of a combination, or other materials, but the material should be sufficiently strong to be suitable for bearing the load of household items placed upon them, or items hung for aeration to recognised acceptance standards.

Figure 3, shows the device as positioned and described above in Figure 2, with an additional embodiment, where the toilet seat lid, 2, is made permeable to allow moisture to drip through the device into the toilet bowl, preferably by means of a lattice or grid pattern, 11, but this could also be made in a variety of patterns and shapes. This enables the resting of heavily saturated items, 12, over a perpendicular rod, 10.

It is preferable that the lattice structure is made of plastic, but other materials, such as wood or metal are also possible. It is noted that whichever material is used, that this should again be sufficiently strong enough to be suitable for the bearing of a person, as described in the description provided above in Figure 1.

Figure 4, shows the device as positioned and described above in Figure 2, with an additional embodiment, where the toilet seat lid, 2, is made with a further liftable lid, 13 to allow moisture to drip through the device into the toilet bowl. This then enables the resting of heavily saturated items, 12, over a perpendicular rod, 10.

Preferably, the liftable lid is moved by means of a hinge, bracket, or similarly adjustable and swivelling mechanism, 14.

Preferably, adjustment and tightening of the swivelling mechanism, 14, is made through use of a locking screw device, such as a wing nut and bolt, 15, although similar locking or affixing mechanisms can be employed, or made without the locking device and simply rested upon any piping or cistern in the toilet system that the device is attached to.

It is preferable that the liftable lid is made of plastic, but other materials, such as wood or metal are also possible. It is noted that whichever material is used, that this should again be sufficiently strong enough to be suitable for the bearing of a person, as described in the

description provided above in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows the device positioned as described above in Figure 2, showing an alternative embodiment where the secondary section, 3, offers reduced or limited aerating facility, whereby the parallel struts, 9, and perpendicular rods, 10, described in Figure 2, are either partially or entirely replaced for a more solid surface, 16, to enable the provision of a semi or entirely flat surface upon which items, 17, can be rested or placed. This specific example shows a fully solid surface, upon which a comb has been placed. It is noted that in this is embodiment the lattice and liftable lid options for the toilet seat, 2, identified above in Figures 3 and 4 respectively, would offer limited additional benefit.

It is preferable that any embodiment of this more solid shelf design is made of wood with metal, or plastic with metal, but may be made of a combination, or other materials, but the material should be sufficiently strong to be suitable for bearing the load of household items placed upon them, and to act as the supporting leg, as described in Figure 1, above, to bear the weight of a person to recognised acceptance standards, should it be offered with this implied utility.

Figure 6 shows a further alternative embodiment, positioned as described in Figure 1, but whereby the example addition of thee supplementary sections, 18, are connected for more seating, bench, aerating, or shelving options. Preferably, each supplementary section is connected to the bordering section by means of a hinge, bracket, or similarly adjustable and swivelling mechanism, 19. Preferably, adjustment and tightening of the swivelling mechanism, 19, is made through use of a locking screw device, such as a wing nut and bolt, 20, although similar locking or affixing mechanisms can be employed.

As noted in the description provided in Figure 1, above, additional sections can be added to the design, with each section being smaller than the preceding, limiting the ultimate number of additional sections. It is also noted that alteration to the design of bordering sections to allow for the additional space required to store each section within the preceding sections will be required, for example a narrower perpendicular rod, 10.

When being opened and re-housed within the toilet seat, 2, it is also envisaged that such addition sections may require a separate mechanism to ensure that these sections remain in place, which could be provided for by the addition of a further strut on a swivel on the edge of the core' section, but this could also be provided by alternative restraining mechanisms (not shown in Figure 6).

It is preferable that any embodiment or variation as implied is made of wood with metal, or plastic with metal, but may be made of a combination, or other materials, and should be sufficiently strong to be suitable for bearing the load of household items placed upon them, and to act as described in Figure 1, above, to bear the weight of a person to recognised acceptance standards, should it be offered with this implied utility.

Claims

CLAIMS.1. A toilet seat with connected and adjustable pull-out sections allowing increased surface utility.
2. A toilet seat according to claim 1, in which the core section houses folded with it all subsequent sections.
3. A toilet seat according to claim 1, or claim 2, in which the core section is linked to the toilet seat, and all subsequent sections are linked to bordering sections.
4. A toilet seat according to claim 1, or claim 2, in which the core section has a hinge, bracket, or other swivelling mechanism allowing movement in at least 900 above the horizontal plain and within its body.
5. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each section is connected to bordering sections by means of a hinge, bracket, or other swivelling mechanism allowing movement in at least 90° either side of the relative horizontal plain of the preceding bordering section.
6. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which all swivelling mechanisms are secured in position by means of a locking screw device, such as a wing-nut and bolt, or similar locking or affixing mechanisms.
7. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the secondary section consists of at least two struts, or arms, with at least one perpendicular rod or traversing bar between the struts allowing the hanging of items upon it.
8. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which sections are pulled out to form a stable structure to the side of the toilet upon which items can hang for aeration, or form a stable floor-supported structure for the aeration of items or load-bearing space for people or items.
9. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the surface of the toilet seat is made permeable through a lattice, grid, or other design whilst retaining structural integrity and load-bearing requirements.
10. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the toilet seat is made with an additional lid that allows movement by means of a hinge, bracket, or other swivelling mechanism in at least 9Q0 above the horizontal to allow water to reach the toilet bowl beneath whilst retaining structural integrity and load-bearing requirements when horizontal.
11. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which any toilet seat made with an additional lid, can have fitted to its swivelling mechanism a locking screw device, such as a wing-nut and bolt, or similar locking or affixing mechanisms.
12. A toilet seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which additional sections can be connected to work in conjunction with bordering sections to increase aeration area, maxim ise the use of space, or a combination of these characteristics.
13. A toilet seat according to any preceding claim, in which the secondary section or any subsequent additional sections can be made into a semi, or fully solid surface to allow items to be placed upon them, whilst retaining structural integrity and any implicit load-bearing requirements.
14. A toilet seat according to any preceding claim, which is made of plastic material, metal, wood, or other synthetic or natural material, or any combination of these materials ensuring sufficient stability and integrity for any implicit load-bearing requirements.
15. A toilet seat substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.