Hydraulicly lifted toilet seat

Abstract

A hydraulically lifted toilet seat. A hydraulic linear actuator mounted within a lift unit rigidly attached to the toilet bowl unit utilizes utility water pressure to provide a force to lift the toilet seat. In a preferred embodiment a drive arm of the hydraulic linear actuator applies a tension force to a flexible tension element which is in turn attached to a sheave that is rigidly attached to an axle rigidly attached to the toilet seat. Actuation of the drive arm of the linear actuator causes the sheave, axel and the toilet seat to pivot about 100 to 110 degrees from a horizontal position to a raised position leaning against the toilet tank. In the preferred embodiment the flexible tension element is a nylon cord attached to the sheave through a pulley. In this preferred embodiment the hydraulic linear actuator is controlled by a spring loaded three-way valve or two two-way spring loaded valves permitting users to raise or lower the seat by temporally positioning valve handles up or down. In this embodiment the pressure line to the actuator is connected to a vent line to a float cutoff valve in the toilet tank so that when the toilet is flushed, pressure in the hydraulic linear actuator is relieved causing the toilet seat to lower to its horizontal position each time the toilet is flushed. Embodiments are provided that come in kit form to permit easy installation without plumbing expertise on almost any toilet in the United States.

1 . A hydraulically lifted toilet seat system for use on a toilet bowl unit, said system comprising:
 A) a toilet seat,   B) a toilet seat lift mechanism unit comprising:
 1) a lift mechanism unit housing, 
 2) a hydraulic linear actuator rigidly mounted within said housing and comprising a drive arm, 
 3) a pivot axle rigidly attached to said toilet seat 
 4) a force conversion mechanism for converting linear force produced by said linear actuator into a torque for pivoting said axle in order to raise said toilet seat, 
 5) a water supply line for supplying pressurized water utility water to said linear actuator, 
 6) a pressure relief line for depressurizing said linear actuator, 
 7) a valve system for pressurizing said linear actuator in order to raise said seat and depressurizing said linear actuator to lower said seat. 
   
   
   
       2 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said force conversion mechanism comprises a sheave rigidly attached to said axle and a flexible tension element attached to said sheave for producing a pivot motion in said sheave. 
   
   
       3 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 2  wherein said force conversion mechanism also comprises a pulley with said tension element wrapped around said pulley and attached to said drive arm of said linear actuator so that actuation of said drive arm produces a pivot motion of said sheave to raise said seat. 
   
   
       4 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 2  wherein said force conversion mechanism also comprises a cam adapted to be pushed by said drive arm of said linear actuator, wherein said tension element is also attached to said cam so that actuation of said drive arm produces a pivot motion of said sheave to raise said seat. 
   
   
       5 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  and further comprising a spring element adapted to provide a pivot force sufficient to move the seat from an angular position somewhat larger than 90 degrees, as measured from horizontal, to an angular position somewhat smaller than 90 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  and also comprising a float shutoff valve for installation in a tank of said toilet and a vent line connecting to said shutoff valve to said linear actuator so that a flushing of said toilet will depressurize said linear actuator allowing said seat to lower to an approximately horizontal position. 
   
   
       7 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  and also comprising a utility water supply attachment unit comprising a standard tube connection coupling and a standard threaded tube connection section corresponding to standard toilet tank connections to permit easy connection of said system to utility water pressure without the need of special plumbing skills. 
   
   
       8 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said tension element is a nylon cord. 
   
   
       9 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said valve system comprises a three-way hand operated valve adapted to raise and lower said seat. 
   
   
       10 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said valve system comprises a two two-way hand operated valve adapted to raise and lower said seat. 
   
   
       11 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said valve system comprises a three-way electric powered valve adapted to raise and lower said seat. 
   
   
       12 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said valve system comprises two two-way electric powered valves adapted to raise and lower said seat. 
   
   
       13 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 11  and further comprising a remote control unit for operating said valve. 
   
   
       14 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 12  and further comprising a remote control unit for operating said valves. 
   
   
       15 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  wherein said system is packaged as an easily installed kit. 
   
   
       16 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 11  and further comprising at least one battery for providing electric power to said electric powered valve and a turbine driven electric generator for generating electric power for charging said at least one battery. 
   
   
       17 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 11  and further comprising at least one battery for providing electric power to said electric powered valves and a turbine driven electric generator for generating electric power for charging said at least one battery. 
   
   
       18 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 11  and further comprising an infrared sensing and control unit adapted to vent said hydraulic linear actuator through said three-way valve when no one is in the region of the toilet for a specified period of time. 
   
   
       19 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 12  and further comprising an infrared sensing and control unit adapted to vent said hydraulic linear actuator through one of said two-way valves when no one is in the region of the toilet for a specified period of time. 
   
   
       20 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 A) a toilet seat cover,   B) a second hydraulic linear actuator rigidly mounted within said housing,   C) a second pivot axle rigidly attached to said toilet seat cover,   D) a second force conversion mechanism for converting linear force produced by said linear actuator into a torque for pivoting said second axle in order to raise said toilet seat cover,   E) a second water supply line for supplying pressurized water utility water to said second linear actuator,   F) a second pressure relief line for depressurizing said second linear actuator,   G) a second valve system for pressurizing said linear actuator in order to raise said seat cover and depressurizing said linear actuator to lower said seat cover.   
   
   
       21 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 5  and further comprising a water line to said housing and a seat-operated valve located in said housing adapted to pressurize said linear actuator if the seat is lifted manually in order to hold the seat in an raised position against said pivot force of said spring element. 
   
   
       22 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 13  and further comprising as sensor and a transmitter located in said housing adapted to operate said valve to fill said linear actuator when the seat is lifted manually. 
   
   
       23 . The toilet seat system as in  claim 14  and further comprising as sensor and a transmitter located in said housing adapted to operate one of said valves to fill said linear actuator when the seat is lifted manually.