Toilet seat raising apparatus

Abstract

A toilet seat raising apparatus including a mounting bracket with a cranked arm bearing a counterweight arrangement. The mounting bracket is provided on the underside of the toilet seat just behind the pivotal mounting thereof, with the counterweight arrangement weighing a little less than the part of the toilet seat in front of the pivotal mounting of the apparatus. A flexible band extends from the cranked arm to a hinged pedal, such that placing a foot on the pedal causes the band to engage with the cranked arm and raise the toilet seat.

1 . A toilet seat raising apparatus to permit raising of a pivotally mounted toilet seat, the apparatus comprising an extension member extending from the toilet seat, a counterweight mounted on the extension member, such that the counterweight is spaced from the pivotal mounting of the toilet seat on an opposite side thereof from a main part of the toilet seat, and a link member extending from the extension member such that pulling on the link member can cause the toilet seat to rise from a lowered position. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the apparatus is configured such that pulling downwardly on the link member causes the toilet seat to rise from the lowered position. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the link member extends between the extension member and the ground. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the link member is flexible 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which the link member is in the form of a line means. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , in which the link member is in the form of a band. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which a pedal is provided engageable with the line means such that pressing on the pedal causes the toilet seat to rise from a lowered position. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , in which the pedal is pivotally mounted to the ground at an end of the pedal away from the pivotal mounting of the toilet seat. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , in which the link member extends beneath the pedal and is engageable against the underside of the pedal. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the extension member extends outwardly and rearwardly from the toilet seat when the toilet seat is lowered. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the counterweight is adjustably mounted on the extension member, such that the position of the counterweight can be varied. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the extension member is mounted to the underside of a toilet seat. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the extension member is integrally mounted to or formed with a toilet seat. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the counterweight weighs a little less than the weight of the part of the toilet seat on the opposite side of the pivotal mounting thereof to the counterweight. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which adjustable tension means is provided on the extension member to maintain the link member taught when the toilet seat is raised. 
     
     
         16 . A toilet seat assembly, the assembly including a toilet seat and a toilet seat raising apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . An assembly according to  claim 16 , in which the toilet seat includes damping means to slow movement thereof when moving to a lowered position.