US20090019626A1

US20090019626A1 - Toilet bowl locking device and method

Info

Publication number: US20090019626A1
Application number: US11/779,647
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael P. Sullivan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-18
Filing date: 2007-07-18
Publication date: 2009-01-22

Abstract

A toilet bowl locking device (1) having a cover (7), a slot (4) located in the cover (7), an anchor (2) having an opening (24) located on the cover top surface (18), a pivotal bar (8) having flanges (14) secured to the cover bottom surface (19), a pivot point (5) about which the pivotal bar (8) pivots, and a handle (3) having at least one opening (24). The handle (3) is secured to the pivotal bar (8) and extends through the slot (4) to permit a user to pivot the pivotal bar (8) when the handle (3) is pivoted within the slot (4). The flanges (14) are spaced a predetermined distance from the cover bottom surface (19) so as to be located beneath the toilet bowl rim (12) when the toilet bowl locking device (1) is secured within a toilet bowl (10). A lock (11) may be used to lock the handle (3) to the anchor (2) and thereby prevent pivoting of the pivotal bar (8).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toilet locking devices, more particularly, a toilet bowl locking device that prevents a person from unauthorized use of a toilet bowl.
When constructing new homes and apartments, new, unused toilets are delivered and installed, preferably in their final location. Although portable toilets are provided for construction workers working on the construction site, oftentimes these portable toilets are dirty and unsanitary. Thus, rather than using the portable toilet, construction workers oftentimes use the newly delivered toilet, regardless of whether the toilet is connected to the plumbing. If the plumbing is connected, sometimes the construction workers will flush the toilet.
In most cases, however, because the excrement sits in the toilet for an extended period of time, the toilet is ruined well before the homeowner moves in. If such is the case, many times the contractor must purchase another new toilet for installation. In addition, most homeowners demand the toilet to be unused prior to their arrival. Thus, if the toilet has been used, even if it is not damaged, the contractor must purchase another new toilet for installation.
Although there are currently toilet bowl locking devices that attempt to prevent unauthorized use of a toilet, these devices are deficient as oftentimes construction workers or other individuals desiring to use the inoperable toilet will rip the device off of the toilet to expose the bowl, thereby damaging the device and the toilet itself.
Thus, a need exists for a toilet bowl locking device that permits a person to prevent a person from unauthorized use of a toilet bowl.
The relevant prior art includes the following references:


Patent No.
(U.S. unless
stated otherwise)	Inventor	Issue/Publication Date

706,869	Woodruff	Aug. 12, 1902
3,346,888	Paysinger	Oct. 17, 1967
2,529,587	Bates et al.	Nov. 14, 1950
6,321,580	Olson	Nov. 27, 2001
2,299,065	Scheerer	Oct. 13, 1942
3,105,975	Kresel	Oct. 08, 1963
733,787	Woodruff	Jul. 14, 1903
906,077	Spencer	Dec. 08, 1908

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl locking device that prevents a person from unauthorized use of a toilet bowl.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl locking device that is easy to use.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl locking device that is durable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl locking device that may be used on a wide variety of toilet bowls.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a toilet bowl locking device having a cover having a top and bottom surface, a slot located in the cover, an anchor having an opening located on cover top surface, a pivotal bar having flanges secured to the cover bottom surface, a pivot point about which said at least one bar pivots, and a handle having at least one opening. The handle is secured to the bar and extends through the slot to permit a user to pivot the bar when the handle is pivoted within the slot. A lock may be used to lock the handle to the anchor and thereby prevent pivoting of the bar.
To use the present invention, a user inserts a bolt through an aperture located on the cover and through a hole located on the toilet bowl so as to secure the cover to the toilet bowl. Then, the user positions the bowl covering portion of the cover over a toilet bowl open space. The user then places the bottom surface of the cover on the toilet bowl and pivots the handle to pivot the flanges beneath the toilet bowl rim so as to secure the toilet bowl locking device within a toilet bowl. Finally, the user secures a lock through openings in the handle and anchor to lock the handle, and thus bar, in a predetermined locked position. When the user wishes to remove the toilet locking device, he or she unlocks the lock and pivots the handle so the flanges are located within an open space of a toilet bowl, that is, so the flanges are no longer located beneath the toilet bowl rim.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is bottom view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is side view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention installed on a toilet bowl;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention locked on a toilet bowl; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention unlocked on a toilet bowl.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:
1. toilet bowl locking device, generally
2. anchor
3. handle
4. slot
5. pivot point
6. aperture
7. cover
8. pivotal bar
9. extension
10. toilet bowl
11. lock
12. toilet bowl rim
13. open space
14. flange
15. bolt
16. upper portion
17. bowl covering portion
18. top surface
19. bottom surface
20. first end
21. second end
22. center
23. toilet bowl rim height
24. opening
25. space
With reference to FIG. 1, a top view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention is shown. The toilet bowl locking device, generally 1 includes a cover 7 of a predetermined size and shape, an anchor 2 located on a top surface 18 of the cover 7, a slot 4, which is preferably curved about a pivot point 5 on the cover 7, and a handle 3 that extends through the slot 4. The handle 3 is pivotal through the slot 4 and permits a user to pivot a handle 3 attached thereto (as shown in FIGS. 2-7). At least one aperture 6 is preferably located on an upper portion 16 of the cover 7 for insertion of a bolt 15 or other fastening means to align the toilet bowl locking device 1 to a toilet bowl 10 (as shown in FIG. 5). A bowl covering portion 17 of the cover 7 may be round, oval or any other shape so as to correspond to the shape of the toilet bowl upon which the toilet bowl locking device 1 is used.
Next, FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention. The cover 7 includes a bottom surface 19 and a pivotal bar 8 pivotally secured to the bottom surface 19. The pivotal bar 8 preferably includes two flanges 14 on either side of the pivotal bar 8. An extension 9 is preferably secured to the pivotal bar 8. The pivot point 5 preferably extends through the extension 9 and the handle 3 is preferably secured to the extension 9. However, inclusion of the extension 9 is not necessary.
In FIG. 3, a front view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention is shown. The pivotal bar 8 has a first end 20, a second end 21 and a center 22 wherein flanges 14 are secured to the ends 20 and 21 of the pivotal bar 8. The flanges 14 are located a predetermined distance below and perpendicular to the cover bottom surface 19 so as to create a space 25 for accommodation of a toilet bowl rim 12 (as shown in FIGS. 5-6).
FIG. 4 shows a side view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention. A bolt 15 is preferably inserted into the aperture 6 located on the upper portion 16 of the cover 7. The handle 3 is preferably secured to the extension 9, but may also be secured to the pivotal bar 8 (not shown). In addition, the handle 3 and the anchor 2 preferably includes an opening 24, which may be of any shape or size. The cover 7, extension 9, pivotal bar 8, anchor 2 and handle 3 may be made of plastic or any other material.
With reference to FIG. 5, a side plan view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention installed on a toilet bowl is shown. The toilet bowl locking device 1 is designed such that a person may not use a toilet bowl 10 if the toilet bowl locking device 1 is installed and locked on a toilet bowl 10. To lock the toilet bowl locking device 1, the flanges 14 must first be located beneath a toilet bowl rim 12 wherein the toilet bowl rim 12 has a predetermined toilet bowl rim height 23. A lock 11, which may be a padlock or any other type of lock, is then used to secure the handle 3 to the anchor 2, thereby preventing pivoting of the pivotal bar 8.
In FIG. 6, a top plan view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention locked on a toilet bowl is shown. When in a locked position, the flanges 14 of the toilet bowl locking device 1 are located beneath a toilet bowl rim 12. Because the pivotal bar 8 and flanges 14 extend across an open space 13 of a toilet bowl 10, the flanges 14 are retained beneath a toilet bowl rim 12 and a lock 11 is used to lock the pivotal bar 8 in a locked position, unauthorized access to the toilet bowl 10 is prevented.
Finally, FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of a toilet bowl locking device of the present invention unlocked on a toilet bowl. When a user desires to remove the toilet bowl locking device 1, he or she unlocks the lock 11 (not shown) and pivots the handle 3 along the slot 4 to pivot the pivotal bar 8 so as to remove the flanges 14 from beneath the toilet bowl rim 12. Thus, a user is able to remove the toilet bowl locking device 1 from the toilet bowl 10.
To use the toilet bowl locking device 1, a user first aligns the toilet bowl locking device 1 with a toilet bowl 10 by inserting bolts 15 or other fastening means through apertures 6 in the cover 7 and holes located in a toilet bowl 10. The user then positions the bowl covering portion 17 of the cover 7 over a toilet bowl open space 13. The user then places the bottom surface 19 of the cover 7 on the toilet bowl 10 and pivots the handle 3 to pivot the flanges 14 beneath the toilet bowl rim 12 so as to secure the toilet bowl locking device 1 within a toilet bowl 10. Finally, the user secures the lock 11 through openings 24 in the handle 3 and anchor 2 to lock the handle 3, and thus pivotal bar 8, in a predetermined locked position. When the user wishes to remove the toilet locking device 1, he or she unlocks the lock 11 and pivots the handle 3 so the flanges 14 are located within an open space 13 of a toilet bowl 10, that is, so the flanges 14 are no longer located beneath the toilet bowl rim 12.
The use of the present invention will prevent a person from unauthorized use of a toilet bowl.
It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.

Claims

1. A toilet bowl locking device comprising:

a cover having a predetermined size and shape;

said cover having a top surface and a bottom surface;

at least one slot located in said cover;

at least one anchor located on said cover top surface;

said at least one anchor having at least one opening;

at least one pivotal bar having a first end, a second end and a center;

said at least one pivotal bar is pivotally secured to said cover bottom surface;

a pivot point about which said at least one pivotal bar pivots;

at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first end;

said at least one flange is located a predetermined distance below and perpendicular to said cover bottom surface; and

at least one handle having at least one opening;

said at least one handle is secured to said at least one pivotal bar wherein said at least one handle extends through said slot above the top surface of the cover to permit a user to pivot said at least one pivotal bar when said at least one handle is pivoted within said at least one slot.

2. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 further comprising:

an upper portion and a bowl cover portion located on said cover; and

at least one aperture located in said cover upper portion.

3. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 2 further comprising:

at least one bolt extending through said at least one aperture to align said toilet bowl locking device with a toilet bowl.

4. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one lock securable through said anchor opening and said handle opening.

5. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 2 further comprising:

6. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 3 further comprising:

7. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 wherein:

said cover is round in shape.

8. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 wherein:

said cover is oval in shape.

9. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 wherein:

said predetermined distance between said at least one flange and said cover bottom surface is equal to a toilet bowl rim height.

10. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 wherein:

said predetermined distance between said at least one flange and said cover bottom surface is greater than a toilet bowl rim height.

11. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end;

said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end is located a predetermined distance below and perpendicular to said cover bottom surface; and

said predetermined distance between said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end and said cover bottom surface is equal to a toilet bowl rim height.

12. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end;

said predetermined distance between said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end and said cover bottom surface is greater than a toilet bowl rim height.

13. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 1 wherein:

said at least one slot is curved about said pivot point.

14. A toilet bowl locking device comprising:

a cover having a predetermined size and shape;

said cover having a top surface and a bottom surface;

said cover having an upper portion and a bowl cover portion;

at least one aperture located in said cover upper portion;

at least one bolt extending through said at least one aperture to align said toilet bowl locking device with a toilet bowl;

at least one slot located in said cover;

at least one anchor located on said cover top surface;

said at least one anchor having at least one opening;

at least one pivotal bar having a first end, a second end and a center;

at least one extension extending from said at least one pivotal bar;

said at least one extension is pivotally secured to said cover bottom surface;

a pivot point about which said at least one extension pivots;

at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first end;

at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end;

said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first end and second end are located a predetermined distance below and perpendicular to said cover bottom surface;

at least one handle having at least one opening;

said at least one handle is secured to said at least one extension wherein said at least one handle extends through said slot above the top surface of the cover to permit a user to pivot said at least one extension when said at least one handle is pivoted within said at least one slot; and

15. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 14 wherein:

said predetermined distance between said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first and second ends and said cover bottom surface is equal to a toilet bowl rim height.

16. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 14 wherein:

said predetermined distance between said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first and second ends and said cover bottom surface is greater than a toilet bowl rim height.

17. The toilet bowl locking device of claim 14 wherein:

said at least one slot is curved about said pivot point.

18. A method for using a toilet bowl locking device comprising a cover having a predetermined size and shape; said cover having a top surface and a bottom surface; said cover having an upper portion and a bowl cover portion; at least one aperture located in said cover upper portion; at least one bolt extending through said at least one aperture to secure said toilet bowl locking device to a toilet bowl; at least one slot located in said cover; at least one anchor located on said cover top surface; said at least one anchor having at least one opening; at least one pivotal bar having a first end, a second end and a center; said at least one pivotal bar is pivotally secured to said cover bottom surface; a pivot point about which said at least one pivotal bar pivots; at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first end; at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar second end; said at least one flange extending from said at least one pivotal bar first end and second end are located a predetermined distance below and perpendicular to said cover bottom surface; at least one handle having at least one opening; said at least one handle is secured to said at least one pivotal bar wherein said at least one handle extends through said slot above the top surface of the cover to permit a user to pivot said at least one pivotal bar when said at least one handle is pivoted within said at least one slot; and at least one lock securable through said anchor opening and said handle opening, said method comprising steps of:

a. inserting said at least one bolt extending through said at least one aperture to align said toilet bowl locking device with a toilet bowl;

b. positioning said bowl covering portion over a toilet bowl open space;

c. placing said bottom surface on said toilet bowl; and

d. pivoting said handle to pivot said at least one flange on said at least one pivotal bar first end and said at least one flange on said at least one pivotal bar second end to be located beneath a toilet bowl rim.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps after step d of:

e. inserting said at least one lock through said anchor opening and said handle opening; and

f. locking said at least one lock.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

g. unlocking said at least one lock; and

h. pivoting said handle to pivot said at least one flange on said at least one pivotal bar first end and said at least one flange on said at least one pivotal bar second end to be located within a toilet bowl open space.