Toilet seat assembly with motorized deployment mechanism

Abstract

An automated toilet seat assembly includes a motorized actuation mechanism for raising and/or lowering a toilet seat Independent spring arrangements are preferably deployed so as to independently counterbalance the seat and lid, thereby minimizing the load on the motor even when lifting both the seat and the lid together. Preferably, a clutch mechanism selectively disconnects the mechanism so as to allow manual lifting and lowering of the seat without rotation of the motor The toilet seat assembly is preferably powered by batteries located in a housing in the lid of the assembly, thereby reducing the dimensions of the deployment mechanism associated with the seat

1 . A toilet seat assembly comprising
 (a) a base for attachment to a toilet bowl,   (b) a seat hingedly associated with said base so as to be deployable between a lowered position for sitting on and a raised position   (c) a deployment mechanism including a motor and mechanically associated with said base and said seat, said deployment mechanism being responsive to a command signal when said seat is in said lowered position to lift said seat to said raised position,   (d) a lid hingedly associated with said base so as to be deployable when said seat is in said lowered position between a closed position in which said lid lies upon said seat and an open position in which said seat is uncovered,   (e) a first spring arrangement associated with said base and said seat and deployed to at least partially cancel a turning moment acting on said seat due to gravity when said seat is in said lowered position, and   (f) a second spring arrangement associated with said base and said lid and deployed to at least partially cancel a turning moment acting on said lid due to gravity when said lid is in said closed position   
   
   
       2 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first spring arrangement is implemented as a pair of spring assemblies deployed to provide turning moments acting substantially symmetrically on said seat 
   
   
       3 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second spring arrangement is implemented as a pair of spring assemblies deployed to provide turning moments acting substantially symmetrically on said lid 
   
   
       4 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first spring arrangement includes at least one spring assembly having a housing formed by a first element attached to or integrally formed with said base and a second element attached to or integrally formed with said seat, said housing defining an annular channel, and at least one helical spring confined within said annular channel 
   
   
       5 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said first spring assembly includes two of said helical springs confined within said annular channel 
   
   
       6 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said deployment mechanism includes a clutch arrangement assuming a first state in which said motor is engaged for lifting said seat and a second state in which said seat can be lifted and lowered manually without rotation of said motor 
   
   
       7 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said clutch is manually deployable between said first and second states 
   
   
       8 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes a housing containing at least one component of a power supply, said at least one component being connected so as to provide electrical power to said motor 
   
   
       9 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said deployment mechanism is connected to said at least one component via a plurality of flexible wires 
   
   
       10 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said deployment mechanism is connected to said at least one component via a rotatable contact arrangement 
   
   
       11 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one component is at least one battery 
   
   
       12 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said housing includes a slidingly removable battery tray configured to allow removal and insertion of said battery tray into said housing while said lid is in said closed position. 
   
   
       13 . A toilet seat assembly comprising:
 (a) a base for attachment to a toilet bowl,   (b) a seat hingedly associated with said base so as to be deployable between a lowered position for sitting on and a raised position,   (c) a deployment mechanism including a motor and mechanically associated with said base and said seat, said deployment mechanism being responsive to a command signal when said seat is in said lowered position to lift said seat to said raised position, and   (d) a lid hingedly associated with said base so as to be deployable when said seat is in said lowered position between a closed position in which said lid lies upon said seat and an open position in which said seat is uncovered,   
     wherein said deployment mechanism includes a clutch arrangement assuming a first state in which said motor is engaged for lifting said seat and a second state in which said seat can be lifted and lowered manually without rotation of said motor 
   
   
       14 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said clutch is manually deployable between said first and second states. 
   
   
       15 . A toilet seat assembly comprising
 (a) a base for attachment to a toilet bowl,   (b) a seat hingedly associated with said base so as to be deployable between a lowered position for sitting on and a raised position,   (c) a deployment mechanism including a motor and mechanically associated with said base and said seat, said deployment mechanism being responsive to a command signal when said seat is in said lowered position to lift said seat to said raised position and   (d) a lid hingedly associated with said base so as to be deployable when said seat is in said lowered position between a closed position in which said lid lies upon said seat and an open position in which said seat is uncovered,   
     wherein said lid includes a housing containing at least one component of a power supply, said at least one component being connected so as to provide electrical power to said motor 
   
   
       16 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said deployment mechanism is connected to said at least one component via a plurality of flexible wires 
   
   
       17 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said deployment mechanism is connected to said at least one component via a rotatable contact arrangement 
   
   
       18 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one component is at least one battery 
   
   
       19 . The toilet seat assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said housing includes a slidingly removable battery tray configured to allow removal and insertion of said battery tray into said housing while said lid is in said closed position