Toilet seat assembly

Abstract

A hinge assembly for a toilet includes at least one mounting bracket including a plate and a post extending from the plate, the plate of the at least one mounting bracket including a mounting hole extending therethrough and a plate cover formed on the at least one mounting bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hinge assembly for a toilet, the hinge assembly comprising:
 at least one mounting bracket including a plate and a post extending from the plate, the plate including a mounting hole extending therethrough; and   a plate cover formed on the at least one mounting bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket is comprised of a first material and the plate cover is formed of a second, different material. 
     
     
         3 . The hinge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first material is a metal or metal alloy and the second material is a plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting bracket comprises two mounting brackets. 
     
     
         5 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plate of the at least one mounting bracket includes a body and at least one elevated flange extending from the body. 
     
     
         6 . The hinge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one elevated flange comprises a pair of elevated flanges,
 wherein one of the pair of elevated flanges extends from a first side of the body and another of the pair of elevated flanges extends from a second side of the body, the second side opposite the first side.   
     
     
         7 . The hinge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the post extends from the at least one elevated flange. 
     
     
         8 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a gasket coupled to the at least one mounting bracket and the plate cover. 
     
     
         9 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plate cover includes a cavity extending there through disposed adjacent to the mounting hole. 
     
     
         10 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to engage the mounting bracket and the plate cover, the housing including a channel extending therethrough; and   at least one damper configured to engage an inner surface of the channel and a toilet seat.   
     
     
         11 . The hinge assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a flange extending along a periphery of the plate cover; and   a lip extending around an open bottom of the housing, the lip configured to engage the flange when the housing is coupled to the plate cover.   
     
     
         12 . A hinge assembly for a toilet, the hinge assembly comprising:
 at least one mounting bracket including a plate and a post extending from the plate, the plate of the at least one mounting bracket including a mounting hole extending therethrough, the at least one mounting bracket comprised of a first material; and   a plate cover comprised of a second material, different than the first material coupled to the at least one mounting bracket.   
     
     
         13 . The hinge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plate cover is formed on the at least one mounting bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The hinge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one mounting bracket comprises two mounting brackets. 
     
     
         15 . The hinge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plate of the at least one mounting bracket includes a body and a pair of elevated flanges extending from the body, one of the pair of elevated flanges extending from a first side of the body and another of the pair of elevated flanges extending from a second side of the b, the second side opposite the first side. 
     
     
         16 . The hinge assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the post extends from one of the pair of elevated flanges. 
     
     
         17 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket coupled to the at least one mounting bracket and the plate cover.   
     
     
         18 . A toilet comprising:
 a base including a bowl; and   a hinge assembly coupled to the base, the hinge assembly including at least one mounting bracket including a plate having a mounting hole extending therethrough and a post extending from the plate, and a plate cover formed on the at least one mounting bracket.   
     
     
         19 . The toilet of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one mounting bracket of the hinge assembly comprises two mounting brackets. 
     
     
         20 . The toilet of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting hole comprises an oblong slot.