AU2003232718B9

AU2003232718B9 - Hinge mounting apparatus for toilet bowls

Info

Publication number: AU2003232718B9
Application number: AU2003232718A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ibrahim Kucun
Original assignee: Eczacibasi Yapi Gerecleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Eczacibasi Yapi Gerecleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2002-11-15
Filing date: 2003-05-20
Publication date: 2007-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-20
Also published as: EA006461B1; ATE373984T1; AU2003232718B2; EA200500831A1; DE60316606T2; DE60316606D1; NZ538889A; AU2003232718B8; TR200202529A2; IL167912A; WO2004045357A1; EP1592332B1; EP1592332A1; AU2003232718A1

Abstract

The system was designed to mount the seats to the pans that seat can not be fixed from the bottom. The part (2) works on the part (1) mounted to the bottom of part (3) is inserted from the ceramic hole (5) on vertical position. By shaking part (4) slightly, part (2) becomes to horizontal position, by holding part (4) by hand, part (3) is tightened with screwdriver. In this way, hinge can be mounted to the hole (5) by the help of apparatus.

Description

Hinge Mounting Apparatus for Toilet Bowls

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Field of the Invention 0 z The invention relates to a hinge mounting apparatus for a toilet bowl of the type wherein the seat mounting holes are not accessible from the lower face of the 0 toilet bowl when it is installed.

Backqround of the Invention OThe hinge mounting for a toilet seat is commonly secured to the toilet bowl using two threaded fasteners which are located in respective seat mounting holes in the toilet and secured thereto using respective wing nuts. However, some toilet bowls are designed so that the underside of the seat mounting holes cannot be accessed once the toilet bowl is installed. This means that it is not possible to secure the hinge mounting of the toilet seat to the bowl using such threaded fasteners and wing nuts.

EP 1177756 describes a device for fixing the seat assembly of a toilet bowl.

The device includes a post element having a stem on which are located an oscillating element and a nut. The oscillating element is arranged to be moved along the stem and into a locking position against the toilet bowl by the nut.

A disadvantage with the device of EP 1177756 is that it is difficult to locate the device in the seat mounting hole because of the long slot in the oscillating element which enables movement, in an uncontrolled manner, of the oscillating element along the stem during installation. Also, after installation, a significant clearance exists between the stem and the seat mounting hole. Even if the oscillating element is firmly tightened between the nut and the lower face of the seat mounting hole, the stem may slide or move inside the hole causing movement of the seat on the toilet bowl.

-2o The present invention seeks to provide an improved hinge mounting apparatus

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0 that can be secured to a toilet bowl of the type having seat mounting holes that are not accessible from the lower face of the toilet bowl once it is installed.

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z 7- 5 A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in 0 Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common R general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge mounting apparatus for a toilet bowl of the type wherein the underside of the seat mounting hole is not accessible from the lower face of the toilet bowl once the toilet bowl has been installed, said apparatus including a bell shaped part, a hinge bolt, an engaging part and a hinge body, and wherein the bell shaped part includes a curved surface and a planar surface either end thereof, said planar surfaces extending in the same imaginary plane, said bell shaped part further including a longitudinal slot so that the bell shaped part can be located on the hinge bolt and tilted relative thereto and located between the hinge body and the engaging part and wherein, in use, the hinge bolt can be threadedly engaged with the engaging part such that the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are held in contact with the underside of the toilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided method of mounting the hinge mounting apparatus of the first aspect to a toilet bowl, said method including the steps of: a) inserting the hinge bolt through a hole in the hinge body, through the slot in the bell shaped part and then engaging the hinge bolt in the engaging part so that the bell shaped part is located on the hinge bolt between the hinge body and the engaging part;

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-3b) tilting the bell shaped part and inserting it through the seat mounting 0 hole of the toilet bowl until the bell shaped part is located below the underside of the seat mounting hole; 0 z c) tilting the bell shaped part so that the planar surfaces can be held in 5 contact with the underside of the toilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole when the hinge body is lifted upwardly; and 00oo d) screwing the hinge bolt into the engaging part until the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are held in contact with the underside of the Stoilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole.

t 0Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view showing an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention being positioned in a seat mounting hole of a toilet bowl; Figure 2 is a side view showing how the apparatus of Figure 1 is held whilst the hinge bolt is tightened; and Figure 3 shows the positioning of the apparatus as properly secured to the toilet bowl.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As illustrated in the Figures, a hinge mounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a cylindrical part 1, a bell shaped part 2, a hinge bolt 3 and a hinge body 4.

The cylindrical engaging part 1 is shown in the Figures as a solid cylindrical member. A threaded bore extends through the cylindrical engaging part 1 substantially perpendicularly to and midway along the longitudinal axis of the -4- V' cylindrical engaging part 1. Although shown as a solid member, it will be

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C appreciated that the cylindrical engaging part 1 may be a tubular member provided the wall thickness is sufficient to enable a threaded bore to be formed

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Z therein.

The bell shaped part 2, as illustrated, is formed from a length of metal strip 00 having a longitudinal slot formed therein. The strip is bent so as to provide a R curved surface in a mid region thereof and a planar surface either end thereof.

The curved surface is shaped so as to mate with a portion of the cylindrical S 10 engaging part 1 and, as illustrated, is approximately semi-circular.

The two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part 2 are formed so that they have approximately equal areas and lie on the same imaginary plane. This imaginary plane is, as illustrated, approximately coincident with the longitudinal axis of the curved surface of the bell shaped part 2.

The components of the hinge mounting apparatus are assembled together as follows: Firstly, the hinge bolt 3 is inserted through an aperture in the hinge body 4. The hinge bolt 3 is then inserted through the longitudinal slot in the bell shaped part 2 from the convex side of the curved surface so that it can be engaged in the threaded bore in the cylindrical engaging part 1.

The hinge mounting apparatus is mounted to the seat mounting hole of a toilet bowl as follows: Firstly, as shown in Figure 1, the user inserts the bell shaped part 2 into the seat mounting hole. This is done by tilting it relative to the longitudinal axis of the hinge bolt 3 so that it can pass through the seat mounting hole to the underside of the toilet bowl. Then, the bell shaped part 2 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 by shaking the hinge body 4. This enables the bell shaped part 2, via the longitudinal slot formed therein, to be located centrally about the hinge bolt 3. Once the bell shaped part 2 is moved to the desired orientation, the hinge bolt 3 is screwed towards the toilet bowl whilst, at the same time, the hinge body 4 is held manually upwardly so that the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part 2 are located firmly against the tt underside of the toilet bowl. When the hinge bolt 3 is firmly tightened in this

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Sway, the hinge mounting apparatus is moved into the position shown in Figure 3.

0 z "1 5 As shown in Figure 3, the hinge mounting apparatus is firmly secured to the toilet bowl such that the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part 2 are 0pressed firmly against the underside of the toilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole. It will also be noticed from the Figures, that the curved surface of the bell shaped part 2, which is substantially semi circular, fits neatly within S 10 the seat mounting hole. As there is little or no clearance therebetween it is not 0 possible for the hinge mounting apparatus and the connected seat (not shown) to move in a sideways direction. Also, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper portion of the cylindrical engaging part 1 mates with the underside of the curved surface of the bell shaped part 2.

The described embodiment is particularly advantageous because it enables a toilet seat to be easily secured to the toilet bowl even when it is not possible to access the underside of the seat mounting holes. The described embodiment has a reduced number of components when compared to prior art arrangements and thus has a lower manufacturing cost. For example, a spring has not been included to automatically bring the bell shaped part 2 to the position shown in Figure 2 after insertion into the seat mounting hole. Rather, the inventors have recognized that this function could be achieved by the user simply by shaking the apparatus after insertion into the seat mounting hole.

It will also be appreciated that the configuration of the bell shaped part 2 helps to maintain the proper positioning of the apparatus in the seat mounting holes.

The embodiment has been described by way of example only and modification within the spirit and scope of the invention are envisaged.

Claims

1. A hinge mounting apparatus for a toilet bowl of the type wherein the O z underside of the seat mounting hole is not accessible from the lower face of the 5 toilet bowl once the toilet bowl has been installed, said apparatus including a bell shaped part, a hinge bolt, an engaging part and a hinge body, and wherein OO the bell shaped part includes a curved surface and a planar surface either end thereof, said planar surfaces extending in the same imaginary plane, said bell shaped part further including a longitudinal slot so that the bell shaped part can S 10 be located on the hinge bolt and tilted relative thereto and located between the Ohinge body and the engaging part and wherein, in use, the hinge bolt can be threadedly engaged with the engaging part such that the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are held in contact with the underside of the toilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole.

2. A hinge mounting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the engaging part is shaped to substantially mate with an underside of the curved surface of the bell shaped part.

3. A hinge mounting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the curved surface of the bell shaped part is substantially semi-circular.

4. A hinge mounting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein in use the curved surface is located substantially within the seat mounting hole when the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are held in contact with the underside of the toilet bowl. A hinge mounting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the curved surface and planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are configured relative to the seat mounting hole so that in use there is substantially no clearance between the curved surface and the seat mounting hole when the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are held in contact with the underside of the -7- V toilet bowl so that the curved surface cannot move sideways in the seat 0 Smounting hole.

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6. A hinge mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 1 5 wherein the engaging part is cylindrical in shape and includes a threaded bore. OO

7. A hinge mounting apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the threaded bore is located substantially mid way along the length of the cylindrical engaging part.

8. A hinge mounting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the planar surfaces of the bell shaped part have approximately equal area.

9. A hinge mounting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bell shaped part is formed form a piece of metal strip. A method of mounting the hinge mounting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims to a toilet bowl, said method including the steps of: a) inserting the hinge bolt through a hole in the hinge body, through the slot in the bell shaped part and then engaging the hinge bolt in the engaging part so that the bell shaped part is located on the hinge bolt between the hinge body and the engaging part; b) tilting the bell shaped part and inserting it through the seat mounting hole of the toilet bowl until the bell shaped part is located below the underside of the seat mounting hole; c) tilting the bell shaped part so that the planar surfaces can be held in contact with the underside of the toilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole when the hinge body is lifted upwardly; and d) screwing the hinge bolt into the engaging part until the two planar surfaces of the bell shaped part are held in contact with the underside of the toilet bowl adjacent the seat mounting hole. I -8- r) 11. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the O accompanying drawings. O z 12. A hinge mounting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described 7- 5 with reference to the accompanying drawings. oo DATED: 14 November 2005 (N t

10 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK SAttorneys for ECZACIBASI YAPI GERECLERI SAN. VE TIC. A.S.