Retractable toilet seat handle

Abstract

A toilet seat handle for lifting and lowering a toilet seat is provided. When not in use, the handle retracts to a position inside the toilet seat. When the toilet seat needs to be lifted of lowered, the handle is released and extended from inside the toilet seat. The handle is then used for lifting and lowering of the toilet seat. Because of the retractable nature of the handle, the handle is not exposed from the toilet seat except when lifting and lowering the seat.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the toilet seat handle comprising: 
 a retractable member shaped to fit inside an inner cavity of the toilet lid;    a mechanism configured to release the retractable member from the toilet lid, wherein the released retractable member protrudes from an outer periphery of the toilet lid.    
     
     
         2 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable member is planar shaped.  
     
     
         3 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable member is substantially rigid.  
     
     
         4 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable member comprises a plastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism locks the retracted member in a locked position.  
     
     
         6 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a block.  
     
     
         7 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 6 , wherein the retractable member comprises a notch, wherein the block protrudes in the notch when the retractable member is in a locked position.  
     
     
         8 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a unlocking mechanism, wherein the unlocking mechanism unlocks the retractable member from a retracted, locked position.  
     
     
         9 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 8 , wherein the unlocking mechanism comprises a button.  
     
     
         10 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism extends the retracted member from the inner cavity.  
     
     
         11 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 10 , wherein the release mechanism comprises one or more springs.  
     
     
         12 . A toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the toilet seat handle comprising: 
 a retractable member shaped to fit inside an inner cavity of the toilet lid;    a locking mechanism to lock the retractable member in a retracted position inside the inner cavity; and    an unlocking mechanism to unlock the retractable member from the locked retracted position,    wherein the retractable member is released from the inner cavity when unlocked by the unlocking mechanism causing the retractable member to protrude from an outer periphery of the toilet lid.    
     
     
         13 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a block.  
     
     
         14 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 13 , wherein the retractable member comprises a notch, wherein the block protrudes in the notch when the retractable member is in a locked position.  
     
     
         15 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 12 , wherein the release mechanism is configured to extend the retracted member from the inner cavity.  
     
     
         16 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 12 , wherein the release mechanism comprises one or more springs.  
     
     
         17 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 12 , wherein the retractable member is planar shaped.  
     
     
         18 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 12 , wherein the retractable member is substantially rigid.  
     
     
         19 . The toilet seat handle of  claim 12 , wherein the retractable member comprises a plastic material.  
     
     
         20 . The toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the toilet seat handle comprising: 
 a retractable member shaped to fit inside an inner cavity of the toilet lid, wherein the retractable member is retractable to a position inside the inner cavity;    a block configured to lock the retractable member when the retractable member is retracted inside the inner cavity;    a button configured to unlock the retracted retractable member when the button is contacted; and    one or more springs, wherein the one or more springs are compressed when the retractable member is retracted inside the inner cavity and when the retracted retractable member is unlocked, the one or more springs uncompress and extend the retracted retractable member from the position inside the inner cavity, wherein the released retractable member protrudes from an outer periphery of the toilet lid.    
     
     
         21 . A toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the handle comprising: 
 a retractable member shaped to fit inside an inner cavity of the toilet lid; and    a sliding member coupled to the retractable member, wherein the sliding member protrudes from the toilet lid,    wherein the sliding member is usable to retract and release the retractable member from the inner cavity.    
     
     
         22 . The handle of  claim 21 , wherein the sliding member protrudes from the top of the toilet seat.