Lifting device for lifting and locking a toilet seat

Abstract

A suction cup assembly enables user to lift and lock toilet seat with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with the toilet seat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clip-on suction cup assembly comprising of a clip, an elongated shaft, a release strip, and a suction cup; in which,
 said clip has a means for clipping onto a toilet lid of a toilet assembly through a contoured front edge of said toilet lid with said contoured front edge projecting downward below a bottom planar surface of said toilet lid, a means for enveloping said contoured front edge, and a means for fixedly connecting said clip to a top end of said elongated shaft, so that said elongated shaft is positioned perpendicular to said planar bottom surface of said toilet lid when said clip is clipped onto said toilet lid through said contoured front edge of said toilet lid;   said suction cup has a bottom planar surface, and a top base fixedly connected to a bottom end of said elongated shaft;   said release strip has a top end connected to said elongated shaft closely adjacent to said top end of said elongated shaft, and a bottom end connected to an exterior surface of said suction cup adjacent to said bottom planar surface of said suction cup, so that said release strip forms a closed loop and provides an interior volume for a finger access for pulling said release strip with a finger; and   said elongated shaft has a height that provides a clearance between said toilet lid and a toilet seat for pulling said release strip with a finger in slightly upward direction without interfering with said contoured front edge of said toilet lid when said clip-on suction cup assembly is clipped onto said toilet lid through said contoured front edge of said toilet lid, and said toilet lid is positioned on top of said toilet seat in a horizontal position;   
       wherein:
 said toilet assembly has a first usage condition for normal toilet usage by a user, in which, said clip-on suction cup is clipped onto said toilet lid, and said toilet seat and said toilet lid are in a lie-down position and a lift-up position respectively; 
 said toilet assembly has a second non-usage condition, in which, said toilet seat and said toilet lid are interlocked together by said clip-on suction cup assembly as a combined unit in said lie-down position; 
 said toilet assembly has a third usage condition for urinating by a male user, in which, said toilet seat and said toilet lid are interlocked together by said clip-on suction cup assembly as a combined unit in said lift-up position; 
 said user is able to lift up said toilet seat and convert said first usage condition to said third usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet, secondly rotating said toilet lid downward to said lie-down position, thirdly pressing said toilet lid against said toilet seat in said lie-down position so that a vacuum is formed in said suction cup for interlocking said toilet lid and said toilet seat together as said combined unit in said lie-down position, and finally lifting up said combined unit; 
 said user is able to convert said second non-usage condition to said first usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet lid, secondly pulling said release strip with a finger so that said vacuum in said suction cup is vented off for disengaging said toilet lid and said toilet seat as separate units, and finally lifting up said toilet lid; 
 said user is able to lift up said toilet seat and convert said second non-usage condition to said third usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of holding said front edge of said toilet and lifting up said combined unit; 
 said user is able to convert said third usage condition to said first usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet lid, secondly rotating said combined unit downward to said lie-down position, thirdly pulling said release strip with a finger so that said vacuum in said suction cup is vented off for disengaging said toilet lid and said toilet seat as said separate units, and finally lifting up said toilet lid. 
 
     
     
         2 . The clip-on suction cup assembly according to  claim 1 , in which,
 said clip is formed in a general U shape that comprises of a first leg having a slot opening connected to a circular opening, a circular loop, and a second leg having a tip-end;   said elongated shaft has a collar connected to said top end of said elongated shaft, and a flange connected to a top surface of said collar;   said means for clipping said clip onto said toilet lid through said contoured front edge of said toilet lid is by means of inserting said clip through a forcibly-opened opening of said clip between said first leg and said tip-end of said second leg until said contoured front edge of said toilet lid fits nicely within said circular loop;   said means for enveloping said contoured front edge of said toilet lid is by means of forming a downward slope at the beginning of said circular loop where it joints said first leg, and forming an interior volume within said circular loop for enveloping said contoured front edge; and   said means for fixedly connecting said clip to said elongated shaft, and positioning said elongated shaft perpendicular to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid is by means of engaging said collar of said elongated shaft into said circular opening through said slot opening of said clip, so that said flange of said elongated shaft is flush with and forcibly pressed against said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid, and said tip-end of said clip is forcibly pressed against and in linear contact with a top planar surface of said toilet lid while said clip being clipped onto said toilet lid.   
     
     
         3 . The clip-on suction cup assembly according to  claim 1 , in which,
 said clip is formed in a general U shape that comprises of a first leg, a circular loop, and a second leg having a tip-end;   said elongated shaft has a flange connected to said top end of said elongated shaft;   said means for fixedly connecting said clip to said elongated shaft is provided by a connector that has a planar body, a track for engaging said first leg of said clip in parallel to said planar body of said connector, and a cavity for engaging said flange of said elongated shaft perpendicular to said planar body of said connector;   said means for clipping said clip onto said toilet lid through said contoured front edge of said toilet lid is by means of inserting said clip through a forcibly-opened opening of said clip between said first leg and said tip-end of said second leg until said contoured front edge of said toilet lid fits nicely within said circular loop;   said means for enveloping said contoured front edge of said toilet lid is by means of forming a downward slope at the beginning of said circular loop where it joints said first leg, and forming an interior volume within said circular loop for enveloping said contoured front edge; and   said means for positioning said elongated shaft perpendicular to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid is by means of maintaining a top surface of said connector flush with and forcibly pressed against said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid, and maintaining said tip-end of said clip in linear contact with and forcibly pressed against a top planar surface of said toilet lid when said clip is clipped onto said toilet lid by inserting said clip through said forcibly-opened opening of said clip between said first leg and said tip-end of said second leg.   
     
     
         4 . The clip-on suction cup assembly according to  claim 1 , in which,
 said clip is formed in a general U shape that comprises of a first leg having a slot opening connected to a circular opening, a circular loop, and a second leg having a thread bolt engaged to a thread hole;   said elongated shaft has a collar connected to said top end of said elongated shaft, and a flange connected to a top surface of said collar;   said means for clipping said clip onto said toilet lid through said contoured front edge of said toilet lid is by means of inserting said clip through an opening between said first and second legs until said contoured front edge of said toilet lid fits nicely within said circular loop;   said means for enveloping said contoured front edge of said toilet lid is by means of forming a downward slope at the beginning of said circular loop where it joints said first leg, and forming an interior volume within said circular loop for enveloping said contoured front edge; and   said means for fixedly connecting said clip to said elongated shaft, and positioning said elongated shaft perpendicular to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid is by means of engaging said collar of said elongated shaft into said circular opening of said clip, so that said flange of said elongated shaft is flush and forcibly pressed against said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid when said thread bolt is tightened against a top planar surface of said toilet lid.   
     
     
         5 . The suction cup assembly according to  claim 3 , in which, said first leg of said clip has multiple holes, and said connector has multiple dents for selectively engaging said holes of said first leg of said clip. 
     
     
         6 . A combination of a suction cup assembly and a connector, in which,
 said suction cup assembly has an elongated shaft, a release strip, and a suction cup;   said connector has a means for fixedly connecting said suction cup assembly to said connector, and a means for fixedly connecting said connector to a bottom planar surface of a toilet lid of a toilet assembly, so that said suction cup assembly is detachably connected to said toilet lid;   said suction cup has a bottom planar surface, and a top base fixedly connected to a bottom end of said elongated shaft;   said release strip has a top end connected to said elongated shaft closely adjacent to a top end of said elongated shaft, and a bottom end connected to an exterior surface of said suction cup adjacent to said bottom planar surface of said suction cup, so that said release strip forms a closed loop and provides an interior volume for a finger access for pulling said release strip with a finger;   said elongated shaft has a height that provides a clearance between said toilet lid and a toilet seat of said toilet assembly for pulling said release strip with a finger in slightly upward direction without interfering with a contoured front edge of said toilet lid when said suction cup assembly is detachably connected to said toilet lid, and said toilet lid is positioned on top of said toilet seat in a horizontal position; and   said elongated shaft is positioned perpendicular to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid when said suction cup assembly is detachably connected to said toilet lid;   
       wherein:
 said toilet assembly has a first usage condition for normal toilet usage by a user, in which, said clip-on suction cup is clipped onto said toilet lid, and said toilet seat and said toilet lid are in a lie-down position and a lift-up position respectively; 
 said toilet assembly has a second non-usage condition, in which, said toilet seat and said toilet lid are interlocked together by said clip-on suction cup assembly as a combined unit in said lie-down position; 
 said toilet assembly has a third usage condition for urinating by a male user, in which, said toilet seat and said toilet lid are interlocked together by said clip-on suction cup assembly as a combined unit in said lift-up position; 
 said user is able to lift up said toilet seat and convert said first usage condition to said third usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet, secondly rotating said toilet lid downward to said lie-down position, thirdly pressing said toilet lid against said toilet seat in said lie-down position so that a vacuum is formed in said suction cup for interlocking said toilet lid and said toilet seat together as said combined unit in said lie-down position, and finally lifting up said combined unit; 
 said user is able to convert said second non-usage condition to said first usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet lid, secondly pulling said release strip with a finger so that said vacuum in said suction cup is vented off for disengaging said toilet lid and said toilet seat as separate units, and finally lifting up said toilet lid; 
 said user is able to lift up said toilet seat and convert said second non-usage condition to said third usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of holding said front edge of said toilet and lifting up said combined unit; 
 said user is able to convert said third usage condition to said first usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet lid, secondly rotating said combined unit downward to said lie-down position, thirdly pulling said release strip with a finger so that said vacuum in said suction cup is vented off for disengaging said toilet lid and said toilet seat as said separate units, and finally lifting up said toilet lid. 
 
     
     
         7 . The combination of suction cup assembly and connector according to  claim 6 , in which, said elongated shaft has a flange fixedly connected to said top end of said elongated shaft, said means for fixedly connecting said suction cup assembly to said connector is by engaging said flange into a track of said connector in parallel to a top planar surface of said connector, and said means for fixedly connecting said connector to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid is by placing an adhesive backing on said top planar surface of said connector, and pressing said top planar surface of said connector against said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid. 
     
     
         8 . A combination of a suction cup assembly and a toilet lid in a toilet assembly, in which,
 said toilet lid has an integral connector fixedly and integrally connected to a bottom planar surface of said toilet lid adjacent to a contoured front edge of said toilet lid, and said connector has a means for fixedly connecting said suction cup assembly to said connector, so that said suction cup assembly is detachably connected to said toilet lid;   said suction cup assembly has an elongated shaft, a release strip, and a suction cup;   said suction cup has a bottom planar surface, and a top base fixedly connected to a bottom end of said elongated shaft;   said release strip has a top end connected to said elongated shaft closely adjacent to a top end of said elongated shaft, and a bottom end connected to an exterior surface of said suction cup adjacent to said bottom planar surface of said suction cup, so that said release strip forms a closed loop and provides an interior volume for a finger access for pulling said release strip with a finger;   said elongated shaft has a height that provides a clearance between said toilet lid and a toilet seat of said toilet assembly for pulling said release strip with a finger in slightly upward direction without interfering with said contoured front edge of said toilet lid when said suction cup assembly is detachably connected to said toilet lid, and said toilet lid is positioned on top of said toilet seat in a horizontal position; and   said elongated shaft is positioned perpendicular to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid when said suction cup assembly is detachably connected to said toilet lid;   
       wherein:
 said toilet assembly has a first usage condition for normal toilet usage by a user, in which, said clip-on suction cup is clipped onto said toilet lid, and said toilet seat and said toilet lid are in a lie-down position and a lift-up position respectively; 
 said toilet assembly has a second non-usage condition, in which, said toilet seat and said toilet lid are interlocked together by said clip-on suction cup assembly as a combined unit in said lie-down position; 
 said toilet assembly has a third usage condition for urinating by a male user, in which, said toilet seat and said toilet lid are interlocked together by said clip-on suction cup assembly as a combined unit in said lift-up position; 
 said user is able to lift up said toilet seat and convert said first usage condition to said third usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet, secondly rotating said toilet lid downward to said lie-down position, thirdly pressing said toilet lid against said toilet seat in said lie-down position so that a vacuum is formed in said suction cup for interlocking said toilet lid and said toilet seat together as said combined unit in said lie-down position, and finally lifting up said combined unit; 
 said user is able to convert said second non-usage condition to said first usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet lid, secondly pulling said release strip with a finger so that said vacuum in said suction cup is vented off for disengaging said toilet lid and said toilet seat as separate units, and finally lifting up said toilet lid; 
 said user is able to lift up said toilet seat and convert said second non-usage condition to said third usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of holding said front edge of said toilet and lifting up said combined unit; 
 said user is able to convert said third usage condition to said first usage condition with a single hand in a single continuous action without making a hand contact with said toilet seat by means of firstly holding said front edge of said toilet lid, secondly rotating said combined unit downward to said lie-down position, thirdly pulling said release strip with a finger so that said vacuum in said suction cup is vented off for disengaging said toilet lid and said toilet seat as said separate units, and finally lifting up said toilet lid. 
 
     
     
         9 . The combination of suction cup assembly and toilet lid according to  claim 8 , in which, said elongated shaft has a flange fixedly connected to said top end of said elongated shaft, said means for fixedly connecting said suction cup assembly to said connector is by engaging said flange into a track of said connector in parallel to said bottom planar surface of said toilet lid.