Top mount fastening system for a toilet with retaining feature

Abstract

A fastening system for a toilet seat and/or cover includes a bolt, a nut, a hinge, and a retainer. The nut is coupled to the bolt and includes a locking member defining a plurality of teeth. The hinge is disposed between a head of the bolt and the nut. The retainer is configured to engage with the locking member and the hinge. The fastening system is configured to detachably couple a toilet seat to a toilet body. The fastening system is configured to be installed onto the toilet body from a single side of the toilet body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastening system, comprising:
 a bolt;   a nut coupled to the bolt, the nut including a locking member defining a plurality of teeth;   a hinge disposed between a head of the bolt and the nut; and   a retainer configured to engage with the locking member and the hinge, wherein the fastening system is configured to detachably couple a toilet seat to a toilet body, and wherein the fastening system is configured to be installed onto the toilet body from a single side of the toilet body.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is slidably engaged with the hinge, wherein the retainer includes a lock tab, and wherein the lock tab is engaged with at least one of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises an expanding hinge sleeve extending parallel to an axis of an opening defined by the hinge, and wherein the expanding hinge sleeve defines a plurality of slots extending upwardly from a lower end of the expanding hinge sleeve, and wherein at least one slot is sized to receive an anti-spin tab on one of the nut and the bolt. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening system of  claim 3 , wherein one of the bolt and the nut defines a tapered surface configured to engage with a plurality of fingers on the expanding hinge sleeve, and wherein the fingers are configured to expand outwardly in a radial direction when engaged with the tapered surface. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a crush rib or a crush ring extending outwardly from the hinge and configured to engage with the toilet body. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is at least partially disposed within a recessed portion of the hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening system of  claim 6 , wherein the retainer comprises a locating member extending outwardly from an outer perimeter of the retainer, and wherein the hinge has a corresponding receptacle sized to receive the locating member. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is rotatably coupled to the hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the hinge and extending over the retainer. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein a threaded portion of the bolt includes at least one relief cut at an intermediate position between opposing ends of the threaded portion. 
     
     
         11 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge defines an opening sized to receive the bolt therein, and wherein the hinge defines a slot contiguous with the opening and sized to receive the locking member therein. 
     
     
         12 . A method of installing a fastening system onto a toilet body, comprising:
 engaging a retainer with a hinge;   inserting a bolt through an opening in the hinge and into a sleeve of the hinge, the sleeve comprising a plurality of slots extending upwardly from a lower end of the sleeve;   engaging a nut with the bolt, the nut comprising a locking member and an anti-spin tab, the locking member defining a plurality of teeth;   inserting the sleeve, the bolt, and the nut through a through-hole opening in the toilet body; and   advancing the nut onto the bolt to engage at least one of the plurality of teeth with the retainer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein engaging the retainer with the hinge comprises positioning the retainer in a recessed portion of the hinge. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the retainer comprises a lock tab, and wherein advancing the nut comprises tightening the nut onto the bolt until at least one of the plurality of teeth engage with the lock tab. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of slots of the sleeve define a plurality of fingers, wherein advancing the nut onto the bolt comprises engaging the nut with the fingers to expand the fingers outwardly in a radial direction and toward the toilet body. 
     
     
         16 . A hinge assembly of a toilet seat, comprising:
 a body defining an opening;   a sleeve extending away from the body in a direction parallel to an axis of the opening, the sleeve comprising a plurality of slots extending upwardly from a lower end of the sleeve, the plurality of slots defining a plurality of fingers; and   a retainer coupled to the body and positioned adjacent to an upper end of the sleeve, the retainer comprising a lock tab extending inwardly from a perimeter of the opening.   
     
     
         17 . The hinge assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the body as a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         18 . The hinge assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the body defines a recessed portion sized to receive the retainer therein. 
     
     
         19 . The hinge assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer is rotatably coupled to the body. 
     
     
         20 . The hinge assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a cover coupled to the body and extending over the retainer.