Automatic toilet seat lid raising and lowering device

Abstract

A toilet seat lid raising and lowering device relies on a motion sensor to trigger its operation. A housing containing the sensor, a motor and a spool is removably attached to a toilet tank. Upon detecting a user approaching the toilet area, the sensor sends an activation signal to the motor causing the motor to rotate the spool. A line is attached to the spool at one end and to the seat lid at a second end such that the rotation of the spool causes the line to raise the seat lid to an open position slightly angled from the tank. Once a user exits the toilet area, the motor returns to a neutral position allowing the spool to rotate in an opposite direction thereby lowering the seat lid by means of gravity. Resistance between the motor and spool prevent the seat lid from “crashing” to a closed position.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An automatic toilet seat lid lifting device removably attached to a toilet comprising: 
 a housing containing a motor coupled to a spool, said spool rotated by said motor;    a power means for driving said motor; and    a line having a first end attached to said spool, said line extending from said spool through a first opening in said housing to a second end attached to a toilet seat lid whereby the rotation of said spool collects said line thereby raising said toilet seat lid.    
     
     
         2 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 1  wherein said device is removably attached to a toilet tank.  
     
     
         3 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 1  further including means for said motor to cease rotating said spool once said toilet seat lid forms a minimum angle with a front face of a toilet tank, said motor maintaining the spool in place once the minimum angle is formed, said minimum angle being large enough to allow said toilet seat lid to lower to an original closed position by means of gravity should said spool be released by said motor.  
     
     
         4 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 3  wherein said means for said motor to cease rotating said spool is an adjustable clip secured to said line preventing further line from being drawn into said first opening of said housing.  
     
     
         5 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 1  further including a motion sensor communicating with a microprocessor that controls said motor.  
     
     
         6 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 4  wherein said motion sensor sends a signal to said microprocessor upon detecting a toilet user approaching said toilet, said microprocessor instructing said motor to rotate said spool thereby lifting said toilet seat lid.  
     
     
         7 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 4  wherein said motion sensor sends a signal to said microprocessor upon detecting a toilet user has moved away from said toilet, said microprocessor instructing said motor to release said spool thereby allowing said toilet seat lid to lower to an original closed position.  
     
     
         8 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 7  wherein the coupling of the motor and the spool incorporates a sufficient amount of resistance to cause the toilet seat lid to lower gradually to the original closed position.  
     
     
         9 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 1  wherein the power means is batteries.  
     
     
         10 . The automatic toilet seat lid lifting device of  claim 9  wherein a light emitting diode in communication with said batteries illuminates indicating that said batteries are low on power.  
     
     
         11 . A method of lifting a toilet seat lid comprising: 
 providing power to a motor;    rotating a spool by means of said motor coupled thereto, said spool and motor contained within a housing removably attached to a toilet tank; and    said spool collecting a line attached at a first end to said spool and at a second end to said toilet seat lid.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said power is provided by batteries.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said motor ceases rotating said spool once said toilet seat lid forms a minimum angle with a front face of a toilet tank, said motor maintaining the spool in place once the minimum angle is formed, said minimum angle being large enough to allow said toilet seat lid to lower to an original closed position by means of gravity should said spool be released by said motor.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further including a means for detecting motion near a toilet.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said means for detecting motion near a toilet is a motion sensor.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said means for detecting motion sends a signal to a microprocessor in communication with said motor upon detecting a toilet user approaching said toilet, said microprocessor instructing said motor to rotate said spool thereby lifting said toilet seat lid.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said means for detecting motion sends a signal to a microprocessor in communication with said motor upon detecting a toilet user has moved away from said toilet, said microprocessor instructing said motor to release said spool thereby allowing said toilet seat lid to lower to an original closed position by means of gravity.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the coupling of the motor and the spool incorporates a sufficient amount of resistance to cause the toilet seat lid to lower gradually to the original closed position.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein an light emitting diode in communication with said batteries illuminates indicating that said batteries are low on power.