WO2016139507A1

WO2016139507A1 - Seat for sanitary vase and related protection

Info

Publication number: WO2016139507A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/051552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edoardo IOVINE
Original assignee: Iovine Edoardo
Priority date: 2015-03-03
Filing date: 2015-03-03
Publication date: 2016-09-09

Abstract

A seat (1) for sanitary vase (3), of the type comprising a curved seat (2), which prevents the user to rest directly thereon, it allows the application of a protection in an extremely simple way, however without requesting a physical contact between the user and the seat and without using complex mechanisms, wherein the seat (2) is equipped with hinges (8) arranged at a rear side of the seat (2), to be able to be overturned in erect or rested position to allow seating, and it has a substantially hook-like shape branching from said rear side and ending with a free end positioned near said rear side, at a distance so as to leave free an insertion space between free end (11) and rear side, wherein the seat (2) further comprises a counterweight (10) formed by an extension thereof projecting from said rear side in opposite direction with respect to that in which the seat extends, the counterweight being so as to determine said overturning of the seat (2) in vertical position in absence of weights thereon, the seat (1) comprising at least a flexible tubular protection apt to be fitted on said seat by inserting said free end (11) therein.

Description

SEAT FOR SANITARY VASE AND RELATED PROTECTION

Description

The present invention has as subject a seat for sanitary vase, of the type comprising a curved seat, suitable so as one can rest on the top of said vase and hinged thereto, in order to be raised in erect position or rested to allow seating.

In particular, the present invention relates to a seat equipped with a protection on its own surface, preventing the user to rest directly thereon, for clear hygienic reasons .

Several types of the above-mentioned seat are known. In particular, it is known and it is quite common a sheet^¬ like protection type, the shape thereof is so as to cover a seat with standard sizes, with a central opening, usually made of paper of the type suitable to be discharged by means of the flushing system.

Such protection is described in the US patent Nr. 4,926,504 which also illustrates an automatic system feeding such sheet, arranged in the rear area of the seat itself .

The US patents Nr. 1,037,062 and Nr. 2,189,562 describe devices, arranged at the hinged ends of the seat, feeding on the surface thereof straight strips of paper, or produced with a paper curling which determines a bent shape thereof that better fits to the seat shape.

The US patent Nr. 4,213,212, instead, describes a device determining the sliding, on the seat arch, of a tubular cover wholly enveloping the seat: the sliding takes place thanks to two reels arranged on the rear side with respect to the seat.

Other documents described devices of the same type, such as the US patents Nr. 4,662,009 - 4,847,922 - 4,935,967 - 6,308,346 and 6,757,917, the German patent Nr. 3,331,740 wherein the tubular protection is impregnated with a disinfectant agent, the Swiss patent 675,530 wherein the tubular protection is insufflated with air, and the Chinese patent Nr. 2,346,383.

In these documents, a system for sliding a tubular cover along the arch of a sanitary vase seat is described. The sliding can be actuated mechanically, in case assisted by an electric motor, and it does not require a manual interaction between user and seat, but it represents a considerable complication in the manufacturing and use of the seat itself.

The US patent Nr. 4,760,613, instead, describes a protection device wherein the seat has a spiral shape with the ends joining at the hinge; the tubular protection is then made to slide from an end to another one with a sliding actuation assisted by electric motors.

The US patents Nr. 5,913,609 and Nr. 5,398,352 describe another tubular sliding protection system, wherein the seat is composed of two side branches divided at the centre.

All the above-mentioned systems request complicated mechanisms, a power supply or a manual mechanical action, and they are subjected to jams and malfunctions due to the intrinsic complexity thereof.

The German utility model Nr. DE 29916282 Ul describes a seat whereon it is possible fitting a tubular protection from an end thereof, however without being able to turn over the seat automatically.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a seat for sanitary vase allowing to obviate the drawbacks mentioned by referring to the known art.

Such problem is solved by a seat as specified above, defined by the enclosed claim 1.

Additional details of the seat according to the invention are defined in the depending claims.

The main advantage of the seat according to the present invention lies in the fact of allowing the application of a tubular protection in an extremely easy way, however without requesting a physical contact between the user and the seat and without using complex mechanisms.

It is to be noted that, due to the effect of the counter^¬ weight formed as one piece with the seat, the latter, when at rest, without the user's weight stressing it downwards, remains always in almost vertical position, far away from the sanitary vase and, however, at a safety distance from the closing cover thereof.

In this way, the easy insertion of a tubular protection as coating of the seat is allowed, which then could be rested by the user to allow seating wherein he will only touch the coating inserted by himself and then removed, with insertion and removal time in the order of 1 second, in particular in the version with one single tubular protection used to coat one single seat portion.

The tubular protection could be constituted by a covering antibacterial tube developed in several materials thereamong a water-soluble film, a biodegradable film, a film with coated double layer made of cellulose paper, rubber, foam rubber, plastic materials, water-repellent synthetic fibres, etc., apart from having an additional protection for the fingers at the mouth, it has the peculiarity of being able to be folded back on itself to be inserted on the seat so as a sock is worn on the foot to avoid that, by hanging before the insertion, could touch and transmit to the user infected liquids existing on all portions and accessories of the sanitary vase, thus nullifying the function therefor the present invention has been planned and developed.

The present invention will be described hereinafter according to a preferred embodiment thereof, provided by way of example and for limitative purposes with reference to the enclosed drawings wherein:

• figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment example of a seat for sanitary vase according to the present invention;

• figure 2 shows a front view of the seat of figure 1 ;

• figures 3A, 3B and 3C show respective views of the seat of the previous figures, rotated to highlight corresponding details;

• figure 4 shows a perspective view of the seat of figure 1, wherein the tubular protection is inserted in the seat thereof; and

• figures 5A, 5B and 5C show respective views of the seat of the previous figures in closed position, rotated to highlight corresponding details.

By referring to the figures, a sanitary vase seat is designated as a whole with 1. It comprises a curved seat 2, apt to rest at a top edge of a sanitary vase 3.

The seat 2 has a slightly convex resting surface 4 and an opposite surface whereon a plurality of resting feet 5, made of rubber of other analogous material, is arranged, properly spaced apart therebetween and apt to determine a certain friction therebetween and the respective resting surface, to protect the seat from side efforts which could appear upon use.

The seat 1 comprises a resting base 6 apt to be rested on the upper edge of the sanitary vase, equipped with a corresponding curved shaped and with a notch-like seat 7 wherein said edge is inserted, by obtaining a firm and stable fixing, whereupon said seat 2 rests.

The seat 2 is hinged to said resting base 6 at the rear region of the seat itself, that is in an overlapped position at the rear margin of the sanitary vase 3. In particular, it comprises a pair of hinges 8 arranged at a rear side of the seat 2, corresponding to the rear portion of the sanitary vase 3.

Mechanical fastening means, in particular of the screw type 13 and bolts, which will be fastened to the suitable rear holes implemented at the top of the sanitary vase, is fastened to the hinges 8, to lock the seat 1 in the use position thereof, in case even without the interposition of said resting base.

Furthermore, the seat 1 can comprise a cover 9, hinged too on said rear hinges 8, apt to cover the top of the sanitary vase 3 and the seat 2.

Thanks to said suitable hinges 8, it is possible turning over said seat from an erect or raised position to a position rested upon the top of the sanitary vase 3, to allow a user seating.

In the present embodiment example, the seat 2 has a counterweight 10 formed by an extension thereof projecting from said rear side in opposite direction with respect to that in which the seat 2 extends, the counterweight being so as to determine said overturning of the seat 2 in vertical position in absence of weights thereon .

The seat 2 further has a curved portion which has a substantially hook-like shape, not completing the arch on said rear portion, which branches from said rear side and ends up with a free end 11 positioned near said rear side, at a distance so as to leave free an insertion space between free end 11 and rear side, near to the hinges 8 of the seat 2.

It is possible fitting a corresponding tubular protection 12, of the disposable type, on said free end, preventing the user to rest directly thereupon, for clear hygienic reasons . It is to be noted that, in the present example, it is possible using a single tubular protection for the whole circumference of the seat 2 itself.

The counterweight 10 is implemented by a ballast, for example, made of a heavy material, inserted in the thickness of the projecting rear portion of the seat 2.

Such raised position, intermediate between the reclined or rested position and the wholly erected or raised position, is the position assumed naturally by the seat 2 when the cover 9 is raised.

In this configuration, said free end 11 is raised with respect to its own resting base and then it is easily accessible to fit thereon, and on the seat's whole circumference, said tubular protection 12.

The tubular protection is supplied by a dispenser, for example made of aluminium, arranged near the sanitary vase, to be accessed easily, apt to supply one tubular protection at a time. In particular, this dispenser could be fastened to a wall at mid height, near the sanitary vase 1.

Otherwise, the protection 12 could be available contained in a small bag, for example a sealed small bag with a tear opening, which can be supplied too by a dispenser, but which can be purchased by automatic distributing machines or in any type of resale.

It is further meant that said tubular protection 12 is made of recyclable or biodegradable, anallergic material and with antibacterial properties, for example made of paper or plastic material.

The protection 12 could further have, at its own ends, small tongues 14 which can facilitate both the insertion and extraction thereof after use.

After use, it is then possible to take off the protection 12 thanks to the partially raised configuration assumed by the seat 2, and subsequently dispose it.

The above-described seat is then formed by three elements joined on the same rotation axis, defined by the respective hinges, functional one to the other one to reach the efficiency and effectiveness purposes thereof.

In particular, the resting base 6 remains fixed to the sanitary vase and it has, at the height of the vacuum left by the cutting-off of the seat 2 or intermediate seat, an anchoring projection (figure 5A) allowing the seat 2 to get stuck therewith when it is rested, so as to give stability and to form a safer closed ring. Furthermore, the upper portion of the base 6 has a central convex track adhering perfectly to the concave track of the lower portion of the seat 2 to give it additional stability and safety.

The seat 2 has a cutting-off giving it a hook-like shape. Such cutting-off allows the intuitive and quick insertion and removal of the tubular protection 14 in the shape of a protective antibacterial tube. Furthermore, the seat in the rear portion has a projection 10 acting as counterweight-fin (figure 5B) allowing to come back to the vertical position after each use.

However, the closing cover 9 has a calibrated weight so that it determines the seat lowering in opposition to the force determined by said counterweight 10.

The seat can be provided in the most diversified colours and features to adapt to the shapes of all vases existing in commerce.

To the above-described seat for sanitary vase and related protection a person skilled in the art, with the purpose of satisfying additional and contingent needs, can introduce several additional modifications and variants, all however within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. A seat (1) for sanitary vase (3), of the type comprising a curved seat (2), apt to be rested at the top edge of said vase (3), equipped with hinges (8) arranged at a rear side of the seat (2), to be able to be overturned in erect or rested position to allow seating, the seat (2) having a substantially hook-like shape branching from said rear side and ending with a free end (11) positioned near said rear side, at a distance so as to leave free an insertion space between free end (11) and rear side,

wherein the seat (2) further comprises a counterweight (10) formed by an extension thereof projecting from said rear side in opposite direction with respect to the one in which the seat extends, the counterweight being so as to determine said overturning of the seat (2) in vertical position in absence of weights thereon,

the seat (1) comprising at least a flexible tubular protection apt to be fitted on said seat by inserting said free end (11) therein.

2. The seat (1) according to claim 1, wherein a cover (9) is provided, hinged to said rear hinges (8) too, apt to cover the top of the sanitary vase (3) and of the seat (2), with calibrated weight so as to determine the lowering of the seat (2) in opposition to the force determined by said counterweight (10) .

3. The seat (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein a resting base (6) is provided, apt to be rested on the upper edge of the sanitary vase (3), whereupon said seat (2) rests and thereto said rear hinges (8) are connected.

4. The seat (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein mechanical fastening means is provided, in particular of the screw type and bolts (13), of the seat (1) on the sanitary vase (3) .

5. The seat (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said tubular protection (12) is made available by a dispenser arranged near the sanitary vase (3), to be accessed easily, apt to dispense a tubular protection (12) at a time.

6. The seat (1) according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said tubular protection (12) is provided in a small bag.

7. The seat (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the tubular protection (12) is made of recyclable or biodegradable, anallergic material and with antibacterial properties.

8. The seat (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the tubular protection (12) comprises, at its own ends, suitable small tongues (14) to ease the insertion and removal thereof.