US1140814A - Sanitary water-closet seat. - Google Patents

Description

F. I. GRAVES. SANITARY WATER CLOSET SEAT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1914.

Patented May 25, 1915.

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THE NORRIS FETEJSTCOH PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

FRANK J. GRAVES, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SANITARY WATER-CLOSET SEAT.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed June 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,907.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK J. GRAVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Water-Closet Seats, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sanitary attachments for closet seats, the primary object of my invention being the provision of a particular type of two wing seat structure especially adapted to receive protective pads of paper, each pad being made up of a plurality of sheets adapted to be consecutively detached by the users of the closet in order to present a fresh sheet to each user.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of reinforcement for a light weight metallic seat structure and provide the reinforcing element with spring clips by means of which the protective pads may be secured in place to present a neat and finished appearance.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel form of hinge for the seat cover, so arranged that the seat cover may remain in proper parallel relation to the seat, when closed, irrespective of the thickness of the interposed protective ads.

p In this connection, a further object of my invention is to construct the hinge in such a manner as to give it double pivotal movement and to provide means for limiting the relative movement of two of the three pivoted members.

lVith these and other objects in View, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the accompanying drawings :--Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved closet seat with the protective pads in place, the cover being broken away to disclose the construction of the seat, Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view taken through the line 22 of Fig. 1, illustrating certain details in the seat and pad construction, and also showing my novel cover supporting hinge in elevation, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, illustrating one method of securing the protective pads in place, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing my improved cover supporting hinge.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved seat together with its protective pads and cover may be applied to closet hoppers of various forms and sizes without material structural changes. The seat may be formed of either wood or metal, or in fact, of any material which may be found suitable, sheet metal being preferred. The seat proper indicated as a whole by the numeral 10 includes a body in the form of a keystone-shaped frame, the outer peripheral edges of which may be rounded somewhat to conform to the curvature of the hopper 11, if desired. This frame is open at its forward ends as shown to provide a two winged seat construction of more or less conventional shape. It should be noted however, at this point, that the rear inner edge of the seat body is of right line extent and that the rear side portions of such body are also of right line extent being formed at equal angles to the rear edge portion. Furthermore, the forward edge portions which extend at equal angles to the rear side portions and which are considerably longer, are also of right line extent. In other words, the inner peripheral edge of the seat is made up of a plurality of straight edge portions, this being advisable to facilitate the proper positioning of the protective pads, as will be later explained.

The body of the seat 10 is preferably stamped and formed from a single sheet of metal of suitable weight and quality, the edge portions of the seat being bent to provide downwardly directed flanges 12 having inwardly directed terminals 13 in order to present smooth rounded edges and consequently, provide a neat seat structure. A reinforcing member 1% preferably extends throughout the seat from one end to the other being curved to correspond substantially to the curvature of the seat, and such member is proportioned to project below the lower end edges of the seat and engage directly upon the upper face of the hopper or bowl 11. All downward pressure upon the seat is therefore supported not by the inp of the reinforcing member.

spaced intervals, this depending stem portion is preferably provided withdownwardly directed studs 15, of rubber orother suitable cushioning material to engage the hopper, for obvious reasons.

Secured to the rear portion of the hop-per is a hinge supporting member 16, substantially rectangular in general shape and preferably of hollow sheet metal construction, being. open at its lower end. This hinge supporting member may be secured to the hopper by stay bolts 17 or any other suitable fastening means, and the seat is connected to it by spaced hinges 18 of any desired type.

In connection with the above described seat, I employ two separate and independent protective pads 19 each of which is made up of a plurality of superimposed sheets of paper. This paper may be some form of tissue, or it may be either oiled or otherwise chemically treated to prevent stain of any other than the uppermost sheet. The general shape of these pads, before application to the sides or wings of the seat, is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it will be seen that each pad comprises a body portion corresponding substantially to the shape of one of the wings and provided along its inner edges with extending flaps a and Z), and along its outer edges with flaps c and d, these fiaps being so formed that when folded around beneath the clownwardly and inwardly turned edges of the seat, the pad as a whole will present a neat appearance. The flaps are of such length as to extend past the free edges of the seat into juxtaposition to the reinforcing member 14 as best shown in Fig. 3. This reinforcing member at suitable intervals, is provided with spring clips 20 which are preferably arranged in pairs at opposite sides Each of these spring clips consists of a strip of resilient metal secured by one end to the downwardly directed portion of the reinforcing member by a rivet 21 or other suitable fastening means, the intermediate portion of such strip being bowed outwardly, as is also the free end portion, that part between such portions bearing firmly against the reinforcing member. The flaps of the pads at points corresponding to the location of these clips, are perforated to receive wire hooks or fastening devices 22 which are also adapted to en.- gage the spring clips, as shown inFig. 3. Instead of these hooks, single lengths of suitable wire may be passed through the perforations and wound, or otherwise engaged about the spring clips when the pads are applied. Because of the forming of the inner peripheral edges of the seat in right line sections, as previously described, the inner inturned edges of the pads fit smoothly against the inner edges of the seat, the result being a neat and finished structure.

A cover 23, either of hollow metal construction or of wood as preferred, is sup plied, this cover practically corresponding, in general outline, to the superficial outline of the side edges of the seat. This cover is hingedly secured to the hinge supporting member 16 by compound hinges 24, the construction of which is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. Each hinge includes a body portion 25 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 26 extending between spaced brackets 27 secured td the rear portion of the upper face of the cover 23, the body member in advance of these brackets being curved upwardly and'forwardly and then downwardly into spaced relation to the cover as shown at 28, such end being provided with a cushloning plug 29 of rubber or other suitable-material. Immediately at the rear of the brackets 27, the body member is widened or laterally thickenedto provide stop shoulders 30 which limit the extent to which the cover may swing away from the downturned end 28 of the body of the hinge. The rear end of the hinge body terminates in an eye 31 which is substantially in horizontal alinement with the pivot pin 26 and the upwardly bowed, rounded, intermediate portion 32 of a U-shaped bracket extends through this eye and forms the main pivot pin for the hinge, the lower terminals of this bracket being enlarged and perforated to provide attaching ears 33. Stay bolts 34: or other suitable fastening means are passed through the perforations of these earsto secure the hinge to the hinge supporting meme ber 16 and the hopper.

From the foregoing description of the hinges taken in connection with the drawings, their operation will be readily under-v stood. Upon first starting to raise the cover 23, the latter swings about the pivot pins 26 until brought into engagement with the cushioning plugs 29 of the hinge bodies,

after which the hinge bodies and cover swing together about the pivot portions 32 of the hinge bracket-s. Upon lowering the seat, the cover swings away from the bodies of the hinges until such swinging movement is checked by the engagement of the shoulders 30 with the brackets 27, after which the cover and hinge body swing together about the brackets 82 until the cover engages the seat. By providing two pivot supports for each hinge, and thus in effect making a compound hinge, it will be apparent that the cover 23 will at all times when lowered be in horizontal position, irrespective of the thickness of the pads interposed between.

the seat proper and said cover which would not be the case with a simple hinge of common construction.

It will, of course be understood, that in using the seat, each user will tear off the uppermost sheet from the protective pads and fresh sheets will therefore, be presented to each user.

It will, further, be understood that I do not wish to, in any way, limit myself to the specific details of construction illustrated in the drawings and described in the above specification, as any minor changes either in construction or arrangement, within the scope of the appended claims may be made, without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A closet seat including a body member of hollow formation, protective pads applicable to the side portions of the body member and having flaps adapted to be turned in beneath the body member, and means arranged interiorly of the body member for securing the flaps.

2. A closet seat including a body member of hollow formation, protective pads applicable to the side portions of the body member and having flaps adapted to be turned in beneath the body member, means arranged interiorly of the body member for securing the flaps, said means including a reinforcing member located interiorly of the body member, and interengaging fastening means carried by the reinforcing member and by the flaps.

3. A closet seat including a substantially U-shaped body member formed of sheet metal having its edge portions curved downwardly and inwardly, the inner edges of the body member being of right line extent, protective pads applicable to the sides of the body member and having flaps adapted to be turned in beneath the inturned edges of the body member, and means for securing the pads in place.

4. A closet seat including a body member formed from sheet metal having its edge portions curved downwardly and inwardly, a reinforcing member secured interiorly of the body member and extending throughout its length, said reinforcing member extending slightly below the body member throughout its length to engage a hopper and hold said member thereabove, and protective pads carried by the body member with their edges turned in beneath the inwardly curved edge portions of the body member.

5. In a toilet seat, a supporting body having downturned sides, a sustaining rib beneath said body and throughout its length spaced from its sides, a plurality of sheets of material superimposed and engaging over said body and beneath its sides, catch devices oarried by said rib, and clip devices passed through said sheets of material and engaging said catch devices.

6. A closed seat including a substantially U-shaped body member formed with its inner edges of right line extent, protective pads applicable to the sides of the body member and having flaps adapted to be turned in beneath the inturned edges of right line extent, and means for securing the pads in place.

7. A closet seat including a substantially U-shaped body member having its edge portions curved downwardly and inwardly, a brace member extending throughout the length of the body member and projecting below the bottom thereof, clips carried by the brace member, protective pads applicable to the sides of the body member and having flaps adapted to be turned in beneath the edges thereof, and hook devices carried by the flaps and engageable with the clips to secure the pads in place.

8. A closet seat including a substantially U-shaped body member formed with its inner and its forward outer edges of right line extent, protective pads applicable to the sides of the body member and having flaps adapted to be turned in beneath the edges of right line extent, and means for securing the pads in place.

9. In a toilet seat, a supporting body having clown-turned sides, a sustaining rib beneath said body and spaced from its sides, a plurality of sheets of material superimposed upon each other resting upon the body with their edges extending beneath the sides, and means co-acting with the edges of the sheets and rib for holding said sheets upon the body in position to be detached one at a time.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. GRAVES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0.

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