Self-lifting toilet seat

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically lifting a toilet seat is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one spring that upwardly urges the toilet seat from its down position to its up position and a means for tempering the speed with which the spring or springs upwardly urge the toilet seat. The apparatus may further include a means to lock the toilet seat in the down position.

1 . An apparatus for automatically lifting a toilet seat, comprising:
 At least one spring upwardly urging a toilet seat from its down position to its up position; and   means for tempering the speed with which the at least one spring upwardly urges the toilet seat.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for temporarily locking said toilet seat in the down position. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where said means for temporarily locking said toilet seat in the down position, comprises:
 at least one locking pin selectively engaging and locking said means for tempering the speed with which the at least one spring upwardly urges the toilet seat.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one locking pin is spring-biased. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one locking pin, comprises two substantially parallel and spaced-apart locking pins that are spring-biased;
 said spring-biased locking pins selectively engaging said means for tempering the speed with which the at least one spring upwardly urges the toilet seat in order to temporarily lock the toilet seat in the down position.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for tempering the speed with which the spring upwardly urges the toilet seat, comprises:
 a hydraulic actuator having an internal, fluid-filled chamber and a movable vane that forces said fluid from one side of the chamber to the other side of the chamber through a restricted passage connecting one side to the other side of said chamber.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said movable vane is rotatable. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said hydraulic actuator further comprises:
 a restriction control to adjust the flow of fluid through said restricted passage.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said hydraulic actuator further comprises:
 a bypass channel connecting one side of said chamber to the other said of said chamber;   a bypass valve having an open position and a closed position and controlling the flow of fluid within said bypass channel;   said bypass valve moving to the open position and allowing said fluid to flow into the bypass channel and bypass said restricted passage when a user attempts to reposition the toilet seat to the down position; and said bypass valve moving to the closed position and preventing said fluid flow in a reverse direction through said bypass channel when said at least one spring upwardly urges said toilet seat to the up position.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said relief valve is a spring-biased ball valve. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for automatically lifting a toilet seat, comprising:
 at least one spring upwardly urging a toilet seat from its down position to its up position; and   a hydraulic actuator tempering the speed with which the spring upwardly urges the toilet seat, said hydraulic actuator having an internal, fluid-filled chamber and a movable vane that forces said fluid from one side of the chamber to the other side of the chamber through a restricted passage connecting one side to the other side of said chamber.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said vane rotates within said chamber 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said vane further includes at least one detent on one end, said at least one detent cooperating with at least one locking pin projecting inwardly into the chamber to temporarily hold the vane from moving and thereby locking the toilet seat in the down position. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising means for locking the toilet seat in the down position. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said means for locking the toilet seat in the down position, comprises:
 at least one locking pin selectively engaging said vane to prevent the vane from moving within the chamber of the hydraulic actuator.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one locking pin includes two spaced-apart and substantially parallel spring-biased locking pins 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said hydraulic actuator further comprises:
 a relief valve having an open position and a closed position wherein said relief valve moves to the open position when a user attempts to lower the seat in order to allow the user to quickly lower the seat with minimal resistance from said hydraulic actuator, and said relief valve moving to the closed position thereafter.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein in said relief valve is a ball valve. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said hydraulic actuator further includes a restriction control to adjust the flow of fluid through said restricted passage. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said restriction control is a needle valve.