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(11) | EP 3 050 474 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | SYSTEM FOR ATTACHING, SECURING AND RELATIVE ROTATION OF A TOILET SEAT AND COVER |
| (57) The invention refers to a system for attaching, securing and relative rotation of
a toilet seat and cover, by the incorporation of projections and/or longitudinal grooves
in the body attaching the components-shaft that form an axis of rotation, and the
complementary grooves and/or projections of the housing of the two rotating elements
(cover and seat) attaching and securing the cover, the seat and the shaft-pieces that
join them, without needing any other elements, thus saving materials and avoiding
complex assembly.
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Object of the Invention.
[0001] More specifically the invention refers to a system for attaching, securing and relative rotation of a toilet seat and cover.
State of the Art.
[0002] The cover and the seat are attached by means of rotation systems that allow relative movement between both elements on a rotation axis.
[0003] Among the known rotation systems installed in the seat and cover assemblies for toilets, there are shafts that are total or partially concealed when inserted in a housing in both parts (toilet seat and cover) acting as a rotation axis integrated in them and forming an assembly where the hinge is formed by the seat, the cover and the mentioned relative rotation axis. These types of rotation systems have auxiliary means to secure their position, such as a clip, a grub screw or similar elements that ensure that the hinge device remains in the desired position.
[0004] This rotation system when fitted has several disadvantages, such as the relative rotation shafts not anchored in their final assembly position without any auxiliary clipping or securing, and therefore having to carry out this securing operation on the assembly and freeing of the auxiliary element when dismantling.
[0005] Also common are visible hinges that have their own axis of rotation outside the toilet seat and cover.
[0006] All these relative rotation systems between toilet cover and seat can be complemented with dampers that act as part of the rotation axis of the toilet seat and the cover.
[0007] The dampened rotation axes between cover and seat habitually used to form part of the cover and seat rotation system have some projections on their surface to drag one of the components, seat or cover, that form the assembly.
Description of the Invention.
[0008] This invention aims to offer an attachment and relative rotation system between the cover and seat assembly that makes it unnecessary to use any other means to secure the position of the elements used as shafts, securing the position of the shafts with the same attachment system between the parts of the assembly, offering a rapid and safe assembly design, with less steps to execute.
[0009] Toilet covers and seats have an attachment system between them, securing the attachment position and relative rotation between both rotating components (seat and cover) for habitual operation. This system for attaching, securing and rotation is comprised of the cover, or its extension to the rotation axis, the seat, or its extension to the rotation axis, and by the mentioned relative rotation axis between both components, seat and cover, that will form components in the form of axes.
[0010] According to the above, we can obtain a system for attaching, securing and relative rotation of seat and cover, with the rotation shaft contained in the same components, forming systems for attachment, securing and rotation partial or totally concealed, or we can also have these parts, seat and cover, with extensions in the same components, arms for attachment to the rotation axis to form a visible system for attaching, securing and rotation, with the rotation axis outside these components.
[0011] In both cases, the securing, attachment and relative rotation system between both rotating pieces (seat and cover) has a common area on said components, housings through which the shaft-pieces will be placed forming a relative rotation axis between both parts, either in the same part or in an extension of the same, so that said area is habitually made up of housings in both pieces that coincide aligning with each other, so that the relative rotation axis is common for both components, and the shaft-pieces that form the rotation axis go through said housings, so that said rotation axis is incorporated into structure of the cover and seat, forming a sort of hinge, totally or partially concealed, or formed in the extensions of these components outside them, forming a sort of visible hinge.
[0012] In this manner, the attachment, securing and relative rotation system between toilet cover and seat is formed by two rotating components (cover and seat) that have housings, either in the same components or in their extensions, these housings being communicated with each other, facing each other and aligned longitudinally to enable the attachment of one or more shaft-pieces that form the rotation axis, which permits relative rotation of said rotating components. These housings are habitually located in the two lateral ends of the rear, for rotation and lowering the cover and seat, if the rotation axis is in the structure of the rotating components, or in the end of the arms that form the extensions of said rotating components to have the rotation axis outside them.
[0013] The shaft-pieces that form the axis, which are fitted into said housings, have at least one body that is fitted to said housings of relative rotation between both rotating pieces, which enables said rotation, once the shaft-pieces are fitted into the housings, of the two rotating components (cover and seat). This system for attaching securing and rotation is preferably formed by two shaft-pieces that fit together separately in each of the two housings that are formed between the two rotating components, cover and seat, in each of the rear rotation ends and lowering of said rotating components.
[0014] The attachment body of the shaft-pieces has at least one projection and/or a longitudinal groove, where the projection and/or groove can be of different shapes and sizes and can be repeated in different points on the surface of the attachment body, creating a significant alteration on the surface of the attachment body, able to fit into a groove or projection in a complementary manner in the other component.
[0015] The rotating component where the shaft-pieces are first inserted, habitually the toilet seat, has in its housings at least as many grooves as there are projections on the body of the shaft-pieces, and/or as many projections in the housing as longitudinal grooves on the body, coinciding these grooves and/or projections of the housings with the complementary shape of the projection and/or groove of the body of the housing of the shaft-pieces, and in the same angles between them, enabling attachment without auxiliary elements between the component and the shaft-pieces, with these components-shaft inserted into each housing of said rotating component where they have first been inserted.
[0016] There housings can be to keep attached the shaft-pieces in one position, and that the attachment in the housing of the second rotating component inserting the part of the shaft-pieces that is on the outside of the housing of the first rotating component, or which allows the movement of said shaft-pieces to inserted in a more considerable manner into the housing of the second rotating component, allowing the passage of the projections and/or longitudinal grooves of the attachment body of the shaft-pieces.
[0017] The second rotating component where the shaft-piece is inserted in second place, habitually the toilet cover, has at least one housing ready to enable the movement of one shaft-piece, having at least as many grooves and/or projections, as longitudinal projections and/or grooves in the area of the body of the shaft-piece to be inserted into it, staggered with regard to the grooves and/or projections of the housing of the first rotating attachment piece, with regard to the rotation axis with said first rotating piece for attachment, so that with a specific position of misalignment in the relative rotation between the two rotating parts, seat and cover, the body of the attachment part of the shaft-piece can insert into the housing of the second rotating attachment component, both rotating components being secured and forming an assembly that allows the relative rotation between both of them.
[0018] This attachment will be maintained once made and can only be detached in the same angle between the two rotating components (cover and seat) as the grooves and projections of the housings of the two rotating components, that coincide at least in one angle, remain aligned and allow the movement of the shaft-piece through both components at the same time, and outside said angle, its movement is blocked, both for attachment stopping it, and for disassembly, securing the attachment position of the shaft-piece without it being possible to remove
[0019] The housing of the first and/or second rotating attachment piece may have more than one groove and/or staggered projection with regard to the other rotating component, so there will be different options for inserting and securing of the shaft in said second attachment part.
[0020] In this manner, and thanks to the longitudinal projections and/or grooves of the attachment body, and of the grooves and/or complementary projections of the housings of the two rotating pieces (cover and seat) the seat and the cover are attached and secured with the shaft-pieces that join them, without needing any other elements, thus using less materials and reducing the complexity of assembly.
[0021] The application of the advantageous characteristics of the cover, seat and rotation shaft can be carried out in several ways. The projections can be achieved by means of a sheath that is fitted to a smooth or grooved attachment body, providing the standard component-shaft with the advantageous characteristic of the projections. There may even be projections that are fitted to the body of the standard shaft-pieces by means of auxiliary fasteners. Likewise, in the case of the grooves, there are covers that increase the size of the body of the shaft and that insert these longitudinal grooves in their external attachment shape.
[0022] In a similar manner, the housings of the rotating components may have grooves or projections formed in their own structure, or adding it in its interior by means of some parts that fit into the housing, giving it grooves or projections.
[0023] The shaft-pieces, in this manner, act as a pin of a hinge, as the rotation axis of the system, but which can act at the same time as a damper, if a damper shaft is used for this purpose.
[0024] The application of the different assembly options of the shaft-pieces in the different and possible housings of the rotating components, seat and cover, can be combined in different manners, but having at least one moveable shaft-piece. So the system may have a fixed shaft-piece, i.e., that the housing of the second rotating attachment component does not allow the movement of the shaft-piece inside it, and the other moveable shaft-piece, i.e., that it enables the attachment between both rotating components inserting the shaft-piece and securing it in the second rotating attachment component, the shaft-piece being able to pull the seat or cover and the shaft-piece moveable the other. It is also possible to have both shaft-pieces moveable.
[0025] It is also possible to use a single shaft-piece to attach and secure the rotating components and form alone the rotation shaft of the system assembly, in a similar manner to the operation of the two shaft-pieces.
[0026] Other details and characteristics shall be shown throughout the description below referring to drawings attached to this report which are shown for illustrative but not limiting purposes only in a drawing of the invention.
Description of the drawings.
[0027]
Figure 1 is a lower perspective view of the two rotating components (seat and cover) aligned.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shaft-piece before inserting into the seat housing, in a system in which said shaft-piece is moveable and will pull the cover, while the other shaft-piece of the rotation system will be fixed and will pull the seat.
Figure 3 is a perspective view with a partial section of the seat housing, of the moveable shaft-piece inserted into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fixed shaft-piece that pulls the seat before inserting into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a perspective view with a partial section of the seat housing, of the fixed shaft-piece that pulls the seat inserted into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a lower perspective view of the alignment of the seat in the toilet cover, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the seat and cover housings, before the shaft-piece moves, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a partial sectional perspective view of the seat and cover housings, in the position on which the projection and the groove are aligned, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 2.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the shaft-piece before inserting into the seat housing, in a system in which said shaft-piece is moveable and will pull the seat, while the other shaft-piece of the rotation system will be fixed and will pull the cover.
Figure 10 is a perspective view with a partial section of the seat housing, of the moveable shaft-piece inserted into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the fixed shaft-piece that pulls the cover before inserting into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a perspective view with a partial section of the seat housing, of the fixed shaft-piece that pulls the cover inserted into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 9.
Figure 13 is a lower perspective view of the alignment of the seat in the toilet cover, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 9.
Figure 14 is a partial sectional view of the seat and cover housings, after the shaft-piece moves, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 9.
Figure 15 is a partial sectional perspective view of the seat and cover housings, in the position where the projection and the groove are aligned, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 9.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the shaft-piece before inserting into the seat housing, in a system in which said shaft-piece is moveable and will pull the seat, while the other shaft-piece of the rotation system will also be moveable and will pull the cover.
Figure 17 is a perspective view with a partial section of the seat housing, of the moveable shaft-piece that pulls the seat inserted into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the moveable shaft-piece that pulls the cover before inserting into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a perspective view with a partial section of the seat housing, of the moveable shaft-piece that pulls the cover inserted into the seat housing, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 16.
Figure 20 is a lower perspective view of the alignment of the seat in the toilet cover, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 16.
Figure 21 is a partial sectional view of the seat and cover housings, before the shaft-pieces moves, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 16.
Figure 22 is a partial sectional perspective view of the seat and cover housings, in the position where the projection and the groove are aligned, in a system as specified in the description of Figure 16.
Description of an embodiment of the invention.
[0028] In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 8, the attachment, securing and relative rotation system (10) between toilet cover (11) and seat (12), and the rotation shaft-pieces (13, 14) has a moving shaft-piece (13) that pulls the cover (11) (as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3), which is inserted completely into the seat (12) housing (21), making the projections (19) of the attachment body (20) of the shaft-piece (13) coincide with the grooves (22) of the seat (12) housing (21).
[0029] This system (10), as shown in Figures 4 and 5, also has a fixed shaft-piece (14) pulling the seat (12), which is inserted into the seat (12) housing (21), making the projections (19) of the attachment body (20) of the shaft-piece (14), with the grooves (22) of the seat (12) housing (21). In this case, the attachment body (20) is partially outside so that, as it does not move towards the inside of the cover (11), the portion of the body (20) that remains on the outside of the seat (12) housing (21) acts as a rotation shaft.
[0030] The attachment, having the moving shaft-piece (13) totally inserted into the seat (12) housing (21), and the fixed shaft-piece (14) that can be partially seen, should be done in such a manner that the visible part of the fixed shaft-piece (14) is inserted into the cover (11) housing (23) (as shown in Figure 6), to then align the moving shaft-piece (13) with the cover (11) housing (23).
[0031] In this aligned attachment position, as shown in Figure 7, the moving shaft-piece (13) is locked without being able to enter the cover (11) housing (23), as the projections (19) of the body (20) of the shaft-piece (13) do not coincide with the position of the grooves (22) of the cover (11) housing (23), that are misaligned in an angle (α). When the seat (12) and cover (11) rotate with regard to each other and the cover (11) is at an angle (α) with regard to the seat (12), the projections (19) of the body (20) of the shaft-piece (13) align with the position of the grooves (22) of the cover (11) housing (23), so the shaft-piece (13) can be inserted into the cover (11) housing (22) and thus be secured to it.
[0032] In this manner, both shaft-pieces (13, 14) are fixed without the need for auxiliary elements and acting as a relative rotation axis between seat (12) and cover (11), only allowing disassembly if an angle (α) is achieved between the rotating components, as when trying the move the moveable shaft-piece (13) again to the outside of the cover (11) housing (23) in another angle between seat (12) and cover (11), it would find an internal wall of the cover (11) housing (23).
[0033] Alternatively, and as another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 9 to 15, the toilet cover (11) and seat (12) assembly, and rotation shaft-piece (15, 16) has a moveable shaft-piece (15) that pulls the seat (12) (as can be seen in Figures 9 and 10), which is inserted completely into the seat (12) housing (21), making the projections (19, 24) of the attachment body (20) of the shaft-piece (15) coincide with the grooves (22, 25) of the seat (12) housing (21). In this embodiment, the moveable shaft-piece (15), having to pull the seat (12) and move to secure to the cover (11), has two sets of unaligned projections (19, 24) and therefore two grooves (22, 25) in the seat (12).
[0034] This assembly, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, also has a fixed shaft-piece (16) pulling the cover (11), which is inserted in the seat (12) housing (21). In this case, the same as in the preceding embodiment, the attachment body (20) is partially outside so that, as it does not move towards the inside of the cover (11), the portion of the body (20) that remains on the outside of the seat (12) housing (21) acts as a rotation shaft.
[0035] The attachment, having the moving shaft-piece (15) totally inserted into the seat (12) housing (21), and the fixed shaft-piece (16) that can be partially seen, should be done in such a manner that the visible part of the fixed shaft-piece (16) is inserted into the cover (11) housing (23) (as shown in Figure 13), to then align the moving shaft-piece (15) with the cover (11) housing (23).
[0036] In this aligned attachment position, the moving shaft-piece (15) is locked without being able to enter the cover (11) housing (23), as the projections (24) of the body (20) of the shaft-piece (15) do not coincide with the position of the grooves (22) of the cover (11) housing (23), that are misaligned in an angle (α). When the seat (12) and cover (11) rotate with regard to each other and the cover (11) is at an angle (α) with regard to the seat (12) (as shown in Figure 15), the projections (24) of the body (20) of the shaft-piece (15) align with the position of the grooves (22) of the cover (11) housing (23), so the shaft-piece (15) can be inserted into the cover (11) housing (23) and thus be secured to it, as shown in Figure 14.
[0037] In this manner, both shaft-pieces (15, 16) are fixed without the need for auxiliary elements and acting as a relative rotation axis between seat (12) and cover (11), only allowing disassembly if an angle (α) is achieved between the rotating components, as when trying the move the moveable shaft (15) again to the outside of the cover (11) housing (23) in another angle between seat (12) and cover (11), it would find an internal wall of the cover (11) housing (23).
[0038] As a further alternative to both preceding embodiments, as shown in Figures 16 to 22, the toilet cover (11) and seat (12) assembly, and rotation shaft-pieces (17, 18) has a moveable shaft-piece (17) that pulls the seat (12) (as can be seen in Figures 16 and 17), which is inserted completely into the seat (12) housing (21), making the projections (19, 24) of the attachment body (20) of the shaft-piece (15) coincide with the grooves (22, 25) of the seat (12) housing (21). In this embodiment, the moveable shaft-piece (17), having to pull the seat (12) and move to secure to the cover (11), has two sets of unaligned projections (19, 24) and therefore two grooves (22, 25) in the seat (12).
[0039] This assembly, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, also has a moveable shaft-piece (18) that pulls the cover (11), which is completely inserted in the seat (12) housing (21), making the projections (19) of the attachment body (20) of the shaft-piece (18) coincide with the grooves (22) of the seat (12) housing (21).
[0040] The attachment, with both moveable shaft-pieces (17, 18) completely inserted into the respective seat (12) housings (21) (as shown in Figure 20), is carried out directly, without having to insert one shaft-piece (17, 18) before the other, directly aligning both moveable shafts (17, 18) with the cover (11) housings (23).
[0041] In this attachment position, as shown in Figure 21, the moving shaft-pieces (17, 18) are locked without being able to enter the respective cover (11) housings (23), as the projections (19, 24) of the body (20) of the shaft-pieces (17, 18) do not coincide with the position of the grooves (22, 25) of the cover (11) housings (23), that are misaligned in an angle (α). When the seat (12) and cover (11) rotate with regard to each other and the cover (11) is at an angle (α) with regard to the seat (12) (as shown in Figure 22), the projections (19, 24) of the body (20) of the shaft-pieces (17, 18) align with the position of the grooves (22, 25) of each cover (11) housing (23), so the shaft-pieces (17, 18) can be inserted into each cover (11) housing (23) and thus be secured to it.
[0042] In this manner, both shaft-pieces (17, 18) are fixed without the need for auxiliary elements and acting as a relative rotation axis between seat (12) and cover (11), only allowing disassembly if an angle (α) is achieved between the rotating components, as when trying the move the moveable shaft-pieces (17, 18) again to the outside of the cover (11) housings (23) in another angle between seat (12) and cover (11), they would find an internal wall of the cover (11) housing (23).
[0043] Alternatively to the above configuration of the shaft-pieces (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and applicable to all the above alternative embodiments, the shaft-piece (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) is formed by a damper that also acts as a rotation axis between toilet cover (11) and the seat (12), also acting as a regulator and damper for the falling of the seat (12) and cover (11), with the attachment body (20) of this shaft-piece (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) damper having the characteristic projections (19, 24).
[0044] Also alternatively to the above configuration of shaft-piece (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and applicable to all the above alternative embodiments, the projections (19 and/or 24) are in a sheath that is fitted to a conventional smooth shaft, with no projections, and which is adapted to the advantageous system of the invention by means of a sheath, cover or ring which is attached and secured in the desired position on the body (20).
[0045] With regard to the alternative embodiments above, it can be highlighted that it is possible to exchange the projections in the shaft-piece and in the housings for cut-outs and grooves, as long as they form a complementary assembly. In the same manner, it is possible to alternate projections and grooves in the same body or housing, with the same complementary result between shapes of the housing and the body of the shaft-piece.
[0046] In the same manner, the assembly can also be carried out beginning with the cover and than passing to attach to the seat, although this is not the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- at least one moveable shaft-piece, where this moveable shaft-piece has at least one projection or groove,
- A first rotating component on which the first insertion of the moveable shaft-piece is carried out, which has a housing with at least as many grooves or projections complementary to the surface shapes on the body of the moveable shaft-piece, as projections or grooves are in the moveable shaft-piece to insert into it,
- a second rotating component of the system, second to be inserted into the moveable shaft-piece, which has a housing with at least as many grooves or projections complementary to the surface shapes on the body of the shaft-piece to be inserted into it, as projections or grooves in the body of the shaft-piece to be inserted into it, being staggered at an angle with regard to the grooves or projections of the housing of the rotating component on which the first insertion of the shaft-piece is made,
- where the grooves or projections of the housings of the rotating components coincide at least at one angle, being aligned and enabling the movement of the shaft-piece through the two components at the same time, and at this angle their movement is locked, both for attachment as well as disassembly, securing the attachment position of the shaft-piece, which cannot be removed.