CN-116746826-B - Flexible toilet seat

CN116746826BCN 116746826 BCN116746826 BCN 116746826BCN-116746826-B

Abstract

The toilet seat includes a seat including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, an inner edge at which the top and bottom surfaces meet, an outer surface connecting an outer periphery of the top surface and an outer periphery of the bottom surface, and a cavity extending from the outer surface toward the inner edge. The toilet seat further includes a liner disposed in the cavity. The top surface and the cushion may be configured to elastically and vertically deform in response to a load applied to the top surface.

Inventors

J. T. Laundree

Assignees

科勒公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230314
Priority Date: 20230301

Claims (12)

1. A toilet seat, comprising: A top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; An inner edge at which the top and bottom surfaces meet; An outer surface connecting an outer periphery of the top surface and an outer periphery of the bottom surface, and A cavity extending from the outer surface to the inner edge and from the bottom surface to the top surface, the cavity being defined in shape by a cavity interior surface comprising a cavity top surface and a cavity bottom surface opposite the cavity top surface, and A liner slidably inserted in the cavity in a radially inward direction, the liner including an outer wall extending between the cavity top surface and the cavity bottom surface and an inner wall disposed inside the outer wall, the inner wall having a height shorter than a height of the outer wall, Wherein the top surface and the cushion are configured to elastically and vertically deform in response to a load applied to the top surface, The toilet seat further includes a plurality of slots disposed in the inner cavity top and bottom surfaces in a radially inward direction and extending into the toilet seat, and a plurality of flanges, each of the plurality of flanges extending radially inward from the outer wall and disposed within each of the plurality of slots, respectively, the plurality of flanges including a plurality of upper flanges and a plurality of lower flanges, the plurality of upper flanges and the plurality of lower flanges alternating along the outer wall, The gasket further includes a plurality of bridges extending radially inward from the outer wall and connecting the outer wall and the inner wall, each bridge of the plurality of bridges being disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of flanges.
2. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein, An air pocket is disposed between the cushion and the interior surface of the cavity.
3. The toilet seat of claim 1, further comprising: A recess provided in an interior surface of the cavity and extending into the toilet seat, and An outer flange extending upwardly and/or radially outwardly from the outer wall and disposed in the recess.
4. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein, The toilet seat further includes a locking protrusion, and The gasket further includes a locking ring surrounding the locking protrusion.
5. A toilet, comprising: Urinal and A toilet seat coupled to the urinal and constructed of a first material, the toilet seat comprising: A top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; An inner edge at which the top and bottom surfaces meet; An outer surface connecting an outer periphery of the top surface and an outer periphery of the bottom surface; A cavity extending from the outer surface toward the inner edge, the cavity being defined in shape by a cavity interior surface including a cavity top surface and a cavity bottom surface opposite the cavity top surface, and A liner constructed of a second material different from the first material and slidably inserted in a removable manner in a radially inward direction within the cavity of the toilet seat, the liner including an outer wall extending between the top surface of the cavity and the bottom surface of the cavity and an inner wall disposed inside the outer wall, the inner wall having a height shorter than a height of the outer wall, The toilet seat further includes a plurality of slots disposed in the inner cavity top and bottom surfaces in a radially inward direction and extending into the toilet seat, and a plurality of flanges, each of the plurality of flanges extending radially inward from the outer wall and disposed within each of the plurality of slots, respectively, the plurality of flanges including a plurality of upper flanges and a plurality of lower flanges, the plurality of upper flanges and the plurality of lower flanges alternating along the outer wall, The gasket further includes a plurality of bridges extending radially inward from the outer wall and connecting the outer wall and the inner wall, each bridge of the plurality of bridges being disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of flanges.
6. The toilet of claim 5, wherein the top surface and the gasket are configured to elastically and vertically deform in response to a load applied to the top surface.
7. The toilet of claim 5, wherein, An air pocket is disposed between the cushion and the interior surface of the cavity.
8. The toilet of claim 5, wherein The toilet seat further includes a locking protrusion; The gasket further includes a locking ring, and The liner is removably coupled to the toilet seat by stretching the liner around the toilet seat such that the locking ring surrounds the locking protrusion.
9. The toilet of claim 5, wherein, The first material is one of polypropylene, polyethylene or polycarbonate, and The second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.
10. A method of assembling the toilet seat of claim 1, the method comprising: aligning a central passage of a gasket with a centering rib of the toilet seat, wherein the centering rib is disposed in the cavity and in an outer surface of the toilet seat; inserting the liner into the cavity of the toilet seat such that the central channel receives the centering rib; Stretching the pad such that a first locking ring at a first end of the pad surrounds a first locking protrusion provided on the toilet seat; Wrapping the first locking ring around the first locking protrusion; stretching the pad so that a second locking ring at a second end of the pad can be looped over a second locking protrusion provided on the toilet seat, and The second locking ring is looped around the second locking protrusion.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: Inserting a buffer into a buffer pocket in the toilet seat, Wherein the cushion is inserted into the cushion pocket prior to inserting the cushion into the cavity.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein, Stretching the pad such that the first locking ring at the first end of the pad can wrap around the first locking protrusion further comprises tightening a first fastening ring at the first end of the pad to stretch the pad, and Stretching the pad such that the second locking ring at the second end of the pad can wrap around the second locking protrusion further comprises tightening a second fastening ring at the second end of the pad to stretch the pad.

Description

Flexible toilet seat The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.63/319,534 (Ser. No. 10222-21035A) filed on day 14 at 3 of 2022 and U.S. national patent application Ser. No.18/116,062 filed on day 1 of 2023, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Technical Field The present application relates generally to the field of seats for toilets. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to toilet seats that include a cushion configured to deform in a user-specific manner to improve user comfort. Background Toilet seats are generally designed for high volume use and accommodate users of various shapes and sizes. User comfort is often sacrificed to support a highly durable universal toilet seat. Accordingly, there is a need for a more comfortable toilet seat that provides customizable characteristics to the user. Drawings Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to the following drawings according to exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate perspective views of a toilet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, fig. 1 illustrates a toilet including a water tank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and fig. 2 illustrates a water tank-free toilet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 illustrates a toilet including a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of the race of fig. 4 and 5, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a race according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 8 illustrates a top view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 9 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 12 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 13 illustrates a flowchart for coupling a liner to a seat ring according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a race according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 15 illustrates a transparent bottom view of a bezel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 16 illustrates a bottom view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 17 illustrates a bottom view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 18 illustrates a perspective view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 19 illustrates a top view of a gasket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 20 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 22 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 23 illustrates a partial perspective view of a race according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 24 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 25 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 26 illustrates a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 27 illustrates a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 28 illustrates a partial perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 29 illustrates a partial bottom view of a race according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 30 illustrates a partial perspective view of a race according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 31 illustrates a perspective view of a toilet seat assemb