HYGIENIC SEAT COVER FOR TOILETS

Abstract

 A seat-lid assembly for hygienic toilet bowls (10) comprising a doughnut-shaped seat (12) hinged to a lid or seat cover (11), wherein the seat (12) is adapted to pass from a seating position, according to which it rests on an upper edge (15) of a toilet bowl (10), to an opening position, according to which it is lifted from the upper edge (15) of the toilet bowl (10). The seat (12) and the seat cover or lid (11) are hinged, by means of fixing means (13), within the respective housings (14) provided on the side walls of the toilet bowl (10) and placed on both sides of the aforesaid upper edge (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention generally concerns a hygienic seat cover for toilets.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a particular method of fixing the seat and seat cover of a toilet to the toilet bowl.

[0003] The aforesaid toilet bowls are generally equipped with a seat-lid assembly (or seat cover), consisting of a doughnut-shaped seat with a lid hinged thereto.

[0004] The seat is then fixed to the bowl in various ways.

[0005] Seats are known which are fixed to the bowl by means of a hinged central rear body, fixed on one side to the centre of the rear side of the bowl, and on the other side to the body of the seat. In turn, the lid is fixed to the seat by means of at least one rear hinge.

[0006] The central hinge between seat and bowl can also be replaced by two side hinges.

[0007] Thanks to the hinge fixing, the seat can be lifted without detaching from the bowl, and similarly the lid can be lifted from the seat.

[0008] Generally, the seat is also equipped at the bottom with at least two rubber blocks or other suitable materials for resting on the upper edge of the bowl.

[0009] However, all methods of fixing the seat and its lid or seat cover to the toilet bowl have a main drawback given by the fact that the joint hinges, the threaded pins and the fixing nuts to the upper edge of the toilet bowl form a receptacle of dirt and bacteria, both because of the environmental dust and because of the organic residues that inevitably settle on these components following the use of the toilet bowl by users; this therefore determines the need to carry out periodic and laborious cleaning and disinfection.

[0010] Furthermore, the particular method of fixing the seat-lid assembly to the toilet bowl determines the need for periodic replacements or maintenance, also due to the wear of the hinge.

[0011] Finally, since the dimensions of the toilet bowl are not strictly unified, it may happen that the seat, once hinged to the bowl, has insufficient transversal stability, due to which the support blocks of the seat lose their support with the upper edge of the bowl, making the seat itself unstable and uncomfortable.

[0012] The main aim of the present invention therefore is to achieve a hygienic seat cover for toilets which solves the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0013] In particular, the aim of the present invention is to achieve a hygienic seat cover for toilets, which avoids the build-up of dust, dirt and organic residues in correspondence with the fixing structure to the hygienic toilet bowl, significantly limiting and simplifying the cleaning, disinfection and maintenance interventions.

[0014] Another aim of the invention is to achieve a hygienic seat cover for toilets, which is easy to use, simple to make and low cost, compared to the advantages obtained.

[0015] These and other aims are attained by a seat-lid assembly for hygienic toilet bowls according to the attached claim 1; further technical details are contained in the attached dependent claims.

[0016] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, but without limitations, according to some of its preferred embodiments, and with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a side view of a seat-seat cover or seat-lid assembly for hygienic toilet bowls, with the seat resting on the toilet bowl and the lid or seat cover lifted, made according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a front view of the seat-cover assembly of Figure 1, with the seat and the lid or seat cover lifted;
• Figure 3 is a top plan view of the seat-lid assembly of Figure 1, with the seat and lid resting on the hygienic toilet bowl.

[0017] With reference to the aforementioned figures, 10 generically indicates a hygienic toilet bowl, usually made of ceramic, and equipped with an upper edge 15, while 11 and 12 indicate, respectively, a seat cover or lid and a doughnut-shaped seat, hinged to each other and usually used as accessories for the toilet bowl 10.

[0018] The doughnut-shaped seat 12 supports, by means of the fixing system made according to the present invention, the seat cover or lid 11.

[0019] Furthermore, the seat 12 rests on the upper edge 15 of the toilet bowl 10 by means of two or more support and/or centring blocks 16.

[0020] Contrary to what is provided in the known solutions, according to which the seat cover 11 and the seat 12 are hinged to each other and fixed to the upper edge 15, behind the toilet bowl 10, according to the present invention both the seat 12 and the corresponding seat cover or lid 11 are hinged, by means of suitable fixing means 13, within respective housings 14 provided on the side walls of the toilet bowl 10, on both sides of the upper edge 15 of the toilet bowl 10.

[0021] Practically, the seat 12 is provided with fixing means 13, which fix it within the side housings 14 of the toilet bowl 10; similarly, the seat cover or lid 11 is provided with further fixing means 13 also inserted in the side housings 14 of the toilet bowl 10.

[0022] In this way, it is possible to release the fixing structure of the seat 12 and of the lid 11 from the upper edge of the toilet bowl 10, avoiding a build-up of dust, dirt and organic residues inside the components of this fixing structure and thus limiting the intervention times for cleaning, disinfection and maintenance of the parts.

[0023] Furthermore, the seat 12 and the seat cover 11 remain integrated together and fitted to the toilet bowl 10.

[0024] Advantageously, according to preferred but non-limiting embodiments, the fixing means 13 comprise two lateral tie rods, preferably made of metal, possibly anti-bacterial metal, and/or corresponding spring-loaded attachments or magnetic snap hooks.

[0025] Still advantageously, the fixing means 13 can be equipped with actuation systems for a soft or slow close of both the seat 12 and the lid 11.

[0026] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0027] Furthermore, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0028] In practice, the materials used, the contingent shapes and dimensions may be varied according to the contingent requirements and the state of the art.

[0029] Where the construction features and techniques mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference marks or reference numbers, these reference marks or reference numbers have been affixed with the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not constitute in any way a limitation to the interpretation of each element identified, by way of example only, by such reference marks or reference numbers.

Claims

1. Seat-lid assembly for hygienic toilet bowls (10) comprising a doughnut-shaped seat (12) hinged to a lid or seat cover (11), wherein said seat (12) is adapted to pass from a seating position, according to which it rests on an upper edge (15) of a toilet bowl (10), to an opening position, according to which it is lifted from said upper edge (15) of said toilet bowl (10), characterised in that both said seat (12) and said seat cover or lid (11) are hinged by means of fixing means (13) within respective housings (14) provided on the side walls of said toilet bowl (10), said housings (14) being placed on both sides of said upper edge (15) of the toilet bowl (10).

2. Seat-lid assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (13) comprise lateral tie rods, preferably made of metal, possibly anti-bacterial metal.

3. Seat-lid assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (13) have spring-loaded attachments.

4. Seat-lid assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (13) have magnetic snap hooks.

5. Seat-lid assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (13) are equipped with actuation systems for a soft or slow close both of said seat (12) and of said lid or seat cover (11).

Drawing