US20120047641A1

US20120047641A1 - Toilet seat lifter

Info

Publication number: US20120047641A1
Application number: US12/806,955
Authority: US
Inventors: David Yuxin Liang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-08-24
Filing date: 2010-08-24
Publication date: 2012-03-01
Also published as: CN102379652A; CN202211637U

Abstract

A toilet seat lifter is arranged for pivotally moving a toilet seat with respect to a toilet bowl. The toilet seat lifter includes an actuator having a coupling portion adapted for outwardly extending from an outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat and a hand gripping portion extending from the coupling portion at a position away from a peripheral edge of the toilet seat. The hand gripping portion of the actuator is adapted for being held to pivotally lift up the toilet seat from the toilet bowl at an upright unfolded position and to pivotally drop down to the toilet bowl at a lay flat folded position without directly contacting with the toilet seat by a hand of a user for sanitary purpose.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to a toilet seat, and more particularly to a toilet seat lifter, which is able to downwardly and upwardly lift the toilet lid between an in-use position and an upright position respectively without directly touching the toilet seat by a hand of user.
2. Description of Related Arts
The toilet seat is commonly tool for seating on the rim of toilet bowl, wherein the toilet seat is pivotally mounted at the rear portion of the toilet rim to pivotally move the toilet seat between an upright position and a lay flat position in accordance with different situations and purposes. The toilet seat is usually lifted up at the unfolded position during a male's urination or when cleaning the toilet bowl. The toilet seat is pivotally dropped down at the folded position to serve as a place for the user to sit on.
Most of the users, especially in a public restroom or a toilet room being shared by two or more family members, may also face the common problem of wet and/or dirty toilet seat, so that the user does not want to sit on the toilet seat or touch the toilet seat at all.
One the other hand, a plurality of spacers may be further attached to the underside of the toilet seat, so that when the toilet seat is dropped downward at the folded position, the spacers form a clearance between the underside of the toilet seat and the rim surface of the toilet bowl to prevent the toilet seat directly contacting with the rim of toilet bowl.
The clearance between the toilet seat and the rim of toilet bowl via the spacers also enables the user being able to lift up the toilet seat easier. However, it still leaves the problem of directly contacting the hand of the user with the toilet seat or even the rim of the toilet bowl, when the toilet seat is necessary to be raised or lowered with respect to variety of situations. Therefore, there is still the sanitary issue of touching the toilet seat with user's hands in the restroom including the public toilet room and the private toilet being shared by family members.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is advantageous in that it provides a toilet seat lifter for pivotally moving the toilet seat between the in-use unfolded position and the upright folded position without directly touching the toilet seat by a hand of the user, so as to enhance the toilet sanitation.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, wherein the actuator is outwardly extended at a clearance between the toilet seat and the top rim surface of toilet bowl and is outwardly extended out of the peripheral edge of the toilet seat. Therefore, the user is able to lift the toilet seat up and down via the hand gripping portion of the actuator without directly touching the toilet seat in a hand non-touching manner.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, wherein the hand gripping portion of the actuator is naturally and vertically dropped downward at both in-use position and the upright position, so as to prevent the actuator blocking and limiting the toilet usage area of the user.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, wherein the base member attached to the underside of the toilet seat by adhesive to minimize the damage of the toilet seat. In addition, the base member can be coupled with the toilet seat in a tool-less manner.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, wherein the actuator can be detached from the base member to form a disposable actuator for enhancing the sanitation of the toilet.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, which has a simple structure to minimize the manufacturing cost of the toilet seat lifter in order to incorporate with the toilet seat. The toilet seat lifter requires simple installation process that the user is able to install the toilet seat lifter into the toilet seat in a tool-less manner.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, which does not require to alter the original structural design of the toilet seat, so as to enable the toilet seat lifter being incorporated with any existing toilet seat.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat lifter, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for providing a sanitary tool to operatively fold the toilet seat without directly contacting the toilet seat by the hand of the user.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by the following description of the instrumentalities and combinations particular pointing out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by providing a toilet seat lifter for a toilet seat pivotally coupling with a toilet bowl. The toilet seat lifter comprises an actuator having a coupling portion adapted for outwardly extending from an outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat and a hand gripping portion extending from the coupling portion at a position away from the outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat. The hand gripping portion of the actuator is adapted for being held to pivotally lift up the toilet seat from the toilet bowl at an upright unfolded position and to pivotally drop down to the toilet bowl at a lay flat folded position without directly contacting with the toilet seat by a hand of a user.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a method of pivotally folding a toilet seat between an upright unfolded position and a lay flat folded position, comprising the following steps.
(1) Couple an actuator, having a L-shape, with the toilet seat at a position that a coupling portion of the actuator is pivotally and outwardly extended from an outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat and a hand gripping portion of the actuator is outwardly extended from the outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat and is naturally and vertically dropped down.
(2) Pivotally lift up the hand gripping portion of the actuator.
(3) Apply an upward lifting force at the hand gripping portion of the actuator to pivotally lift up the toilet seat from the folded position to the unfolded position; and
(4) Release the upward lifting force at the hand gripping portion of the actuator such that the hand gripping portion of the actuator is naturally and vertically dropped down when the toilet seat is moved at the unfolded position.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet seat lifter according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the toilet seat at an upright folded position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toilet seat lifter according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the toilet seat at an in-use unfolded position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toilet seat lifter according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an operation of the toilet seat lifter according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a toilet seat lifter according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a toilet seat lifter according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a toilet seat lifer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the toilet seat lifter is attached to a toilet seat 10 for pivotally raising or lowering the toilet seat 10 between an upright unfolded position, as shown in FIG. 1 and an in-use folded position as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the toilet seat 10 is pivotally lifted up at the unfolded position during a male's urination or when cleaning the toilet bowl. The toilet seat 10 is pivotally dropped down at the folded position that the toile seat 10 is laid flat on the toilet bowl to serve as a place for the user to sit on.
Accordingly, the toilet seat 10 is pivotally coupled on top of the toilet bowl 20. The toilet bowl 20 generally has a top rim surface 21 to define a top opening 22 therewithin, so that the toilet bowl 20 is able to collect the human waste through the top opening 22. Therefore, the toilet seat 10 is preferably covering the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20 when the toilet seat 10 is being lowered to the in-use position, wherein the toilet seat 10 is preferably mounted at a rear portion of the top rim surface 21 for pivotally coupling the toilet seat 10 with the toilet bowl 20, so that the user is able to movably lift up or lower down the toilet seat 10 at the upright position and the in-use position respectively.
The toilet seat 10 has a top seating side 11 for the user sitting thereon at the in-use position of the toilet seat 10, and an underside 12 at the bottom of the toilet seat 10. The toilet seat 10 has a shape substantially contouring the size and shape of the top rim surface 21 for fittedly covering the top rim surface 21. Traditionally, a plurality of spacers 13 are provided at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10, so that when the toilet seat 10 is lowered to the in-use position to overlap with the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20, the spacers 13 are seated on the top rim surface 21 to define a clearance between the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20 and the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10. In other words, when the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 is overlapped with the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20 at the in-use position, the clearance 14 is able to prevent the toilet seat 10 directly contacting with the top rim surface 21 as best shown in FIG. 2, so as to prolong the lifetime of the toilet seat 10 and the toilet bowl 20. It should be noted that the toilet seat 10 slightly lifted above the top rim surface 21 via the spacers 13 at the in-use position also allows the user easily applying a lifting force at the outer side edge or the underside 12 from the clearance 14 to raise the toilet seat from the in-use position to the upright position.
According to the preferred embodiment, the toilet seat lifter comprises an actuator 30 having a coupling portion 31 adapted for outwardly extending from an outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10 and a hand gripping portion 32 extending from the coupling portion 31 at a position away from the outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10. According to the preferred embodiment, the coupling portion 31 is preferably affixed and extended from the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10.
The hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is adapted for being held to pivotally lift up the toilet seat 10 from the toilet bowl 20 at the upright unfolded position and to pivotally drop down to the toilet bowl 20 at the lay flat folded position without directly contacting with the toilet seat 20 by a hand of a user.
The actuator 30 further has an enlarged gripper head 33 formed at a free end of the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30. In other words, the user is able to easily raise and lower the toilet seat 10 between the in-use position and the upright position through the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 without directly touching the toilet seat 10 by the hands of the user in the non-touching manner, so as to prevent touching the toilet bowl 20 by the user's hand.
Accordingly, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is angularly extended from the coupling portion 31 thereof. Preferably, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is perpendicularly extended from the coupling portion 31 thereof to form a L-shaped actuator 30 such that a torque force of the actuator 30 is increased for easily and conveniently lifting the toilet seat 10 between the folded and unfolded positions. In addition, the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 is pivotally extended from the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 through the clearance 14 thereof such that the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is adapted to pivotally move with respect to the toilet seat 10 at 360 degrees. Therefore, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is naturally and vertically dropped down by its own weight when the toilet seat 10 is pivotally folded at both unfolded and folded positions, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In other words, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is naturally and vertically dropped down with respect to the ground level to prevent the actuator 30 blocking and limiting the toilet usage area of the user.
As shown in FIG. 3, the toilet seat lifter further comprises a base member 40 adapted for coupling at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10, wherein the base member 40 has a holder slot 41 radially projected from the toilet seat 10. The coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 is pivotally coupled with the base member 40 at the holder slot 41 to enable the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 being pivotally swung with respect to the toilet seat 10 between the unfolded position and the folded position.
The base member 40 has a top adhesive side 42 adapted for coupling at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10, and a bottom impact absorbing side 43 for contacting with the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20, such that the base member 40 also forms a seat spacer for spacing between the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 and the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20. The bottom impact absorbing side 43 of the base member can be an absorption layer, such as rubber, Styrofoam, or other plastic layer, to prevent the toilet seat 10 being damaged from the impact force between the toilet seat 10 and the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20.
It is appreciated that the one of the spacers of the toilet seat 10 can be embodied as the base member 40 by forming the holder slot 41 at the spacer such that the base member 40 can be integrally formed with the toilet seat 10 to retain the actuator 30 in position.
As shown in FIG. 3, the holder slot 41 generally has a U-shaped configuration to define an elongated top opening at the top adhesive side 42 of the base member 40, wherein the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 is received at the holder slot 41 through the top opening thereof to retain the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 in position. It is worth mentioning that after the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 is received at the holder slot 41, the top adhesive side 42 of the base member 40 is adapted to couple at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 to retain the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10. In addition, the base member 40 can be selectively coupled at either the left side or the right side of the toilet seat 10 for a left-handed user or a right-handed user.
The actuator 30 further comprises one or more retention wings 34 outwardly extended from the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 at a free end portion thereof for preventing the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 from being slid out of the holder slot 41 of the base member 40, as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 illustrates an operation of the toilet seat lifter to pivotally move the toilet seat 10 between the upright unfolded position and the lay flat folded position, wherein the method comprises the following steps.
(1) Couple the actuator 30, having a L-shape, with the toilet seat 10 at a position that the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 is pivotally and outwardly extended from an outer peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10 and the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is outwardly extended from the peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10 and is naturally and vertically dropped down with respect to the ground surface. According to the preferred embodiment, the actuator 30 is preferably extended from the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 within the clearance 14 thereof.
(2) Pivotally lift up the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 at the gripper head 33 thereof. Accordingly, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is lifted at the upward vertical orientation.
(3) Apply an upward lifting force at the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 to pivotally lift up the toilet seat 10 from the folded position to the unfolded position. It is worth mentioning that hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is maintained at the upward vertical orientation as in the step (2).
(4) Release the upward lifting force at the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 such that the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is naturally and vertically dropped down when the toilet seat 10 is moved at the unfolded position.
(5) Pivotally lift up the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 when the toilet seat 10 is moved at the unfolded position. Accordingly, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is lifted at the upward vertical orientation.
(6) Apply an upward holding force at the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 to pivotally drop down the toilet seat 10 from the unfolded position to the folded position. It is worth mentioning that hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is maintained at the upward vertical orientation as in the step (5).
(7) Release the upward holding force at the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 such that the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is naturally and vertically dropped down when the toilet seat 10 is moved at the folded position.
According to the preferred embodiment, the step (1) further comprises the following steps.
(1.1) Couple the base member 40 at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10, wherein the holder slot 41 of the base member 40 is set to radially project from the toilet seat 10. Accordingly, the base member 40 is adhered to the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 such that the base member 40 is installed in a tool-less manner and prevents the surface damage of the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10.
(1.2) slidably insert the coupling portion 31 of the actuator 30 into the holder slot 41 of the base member 40 to enable the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 being pivotally moved with respect to the toilet seat 10.
It is worth mentioning that the height of the base member 40 matches with the clearance 14 of the toilet seat 10 such that the base member 40 can form the seat spacer for spacing between the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 and the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20.
Accordingly, the hand gripping portion 32 of the actuator 30 is lifted at the upward vertical orientation at both the steps (3) and (6) by the upward lifting force and the upward holding force. Therefore, no downward pulling force will be applied to the actuator 30 in order to pull the actuator 30 and the base member 40 away from the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 so as to prevent the toilet seat lifter of the present invention being detached from the toilet seat 10 during the folding operation of the toilet seat 10 between the unfolded and folded position. In fact, the upward lifting force and the upward holding force will ensure the base member 40 being coupled at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10. Therefore, the user will not touch the toilet seat 10 throughout the operation of the toilet seat 10.
It is appreciated that the toilet seat lifter is able to incorporate with most of the existing toilet seat 10 without alternating the shape and structure thereof, so as to simplify the installation process and minimize the manufacturing cost. The user is able to install the toilet seat lifter with their currently using toilet seat 10 without buying the whole set of the toilet seat 10.
As shown in FIG. 5, a toilet seat lifter of a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the present invention, wherein the toilet seat lifter, according to the second embodiment, comprises an actuator 30′ having a coupling portion 31′ adapted for outwardly extending from the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 and a hand gripping portion 32′ extending from the coupling portion 31′ at a position away from the peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10.
In addition, the hand gripping portion 32′ of the actuator 30′ is angularly extended from the coupling portion 31′ thereof. According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hand gripping portion 32′ of the actuator 30′ may be integrally extended from the coupling portion 31′ and downwardly inclined therefrom to form a predetermined inclined angle between the coupling portion 31′ and the hand gripping portion 32′. Therefore, the downwardly inclined hand gripping portion 32′ is able to efficiently apply the lifting force on the actuator 30′ to lift up and drop down the toilet seat 10 between the unfolded position and the folded position respectively.
The actuator 30′ further has an enlarged gripper head 33′ formed at a free end of the hand gripping portion 32′ of the actuator 30′. Accordingly, the hand gripping portion 32′ of the actuator 30′ is adapted for being held to pivotally lift up the toilet seat 10 from the toilet bowl 20 at the upright unfolded position and to pivotally drop down to the toilet bowl 20 at the lay flat folded position without directly contacting with the toilet seat 10 by the hand of the user.
The coupling portion 31′ of the actuator has a top adhesive side 311′ adapted for coupling at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10. Therefore, the actuator 30′ can be directly coupled with the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 without the base member 40.
As shown in FIG. 6, a toilet seat lifter of a third embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the present invention, wherein the toilet seat lifter, according to the third embodiment, comprises an actuator 30″ and a base member 40″.
The actuator 30″ has a coupling portion 31″ adapted for outwardly extending from the outer peripheral edge, preferably affixed and extended from the underside 12, of the toilet seat 10 and a hand gripping portion 32″ extending from the coupling portion 31″ at a position away from the peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10.
The base member 40″, having a holder slot 41″, is adapted for coupling at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10, wherein the coupling portion 31″ of the actuator 30″ is slidably coupled with the base member 40″ at the holder slot 41″ to enable the hand gripping portion 32″ of the actuator 30″ being held to pivotally move the toilet seat 10 between the unfolded position and the folded position. Accordingly, the coupling portion of the actuator 30″ is detachably and slidably coupled with the base member 40″ at the holder slot 41″.
The base member 40″ has a top adhesive side 42″ adapted for coupling at the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10, and a bottom impact absorbing side 43″ for contacting with the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20, such that the base member 40″ also forms a seat spacer for spacing between the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 and the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20. The bottom impact absorbing side 43″ of the base member can be an absorption layer, such as rubber, Styrofoam, or other plastic layer, to prevent the toilet seat 10 being damaged from the impact force between the toilet seat 10 and the top rim surface 21 of the toilet bowl 20.
In order to detachably couple the actuator 30″ with the base member 40″, the toilet seat lifter further a releasable locker 50″ for releasably locking the coupling portion 31″ of the actuator 30″ at the holder slot 41″ of the base member 40″, wherein the releasable locker 50″ has two locker slots 51″ formed at two sidewalls of the holder slot 41″ respectively and comprises two resilient lockers 52″ sidewardly and movably provided at two side edges of the coupling portion 31″ of the actuator 30″ to releasably engage with the locker slots 51″ respectively when the coupling portion 31″ of the actuator 30″ is slidably inserted into the holder slot 41″ of the base member 40″.
Accordingly, the holder slot 41″ has a size and shape corresponding to the size and the shape of the cross section of the coupling portion 31″ of the actuator 30″, so that the actuator 30″ is able to be inserted into the holder slot 41″ for interlocking therewith.
It is important that the actuator 30″ can be made of paper, plastic, metal, or any other materials having a predetermined rigidness for transferring the lifting force from the hands of user to the toilet seat 10. For example, the actuator 30″ may be formed by the paper having two resilient lockers 52″ integrally and slightly protruded out of the two side edges of the coupling portion 31″, so that the paper made actuator 30″ is able to insertably couple with the holder slot 41″ via the locker slot 51″ and to be detached as a disposable actuator 30″ for the sanitary purpose.
Alternatively, the actuator 30″ can be made of plastic material, having two resilient lockers 52″ retractably formed at the two side edges of the coupling portion 31″, wherein each of the resilient lockers 52″ is preferably incorporating with a spring-loaded mechanism, so that when the actuator 30″ is slidably inserted into the holder slot 41″, the resilient lockers 52″ are inwardly retracted for allowing the actuator 30″ sliding into the holder slot 41″. Meanwhile, the resilient lockers 52″ are automatically and outwardly returning to the original position to protrude out of the locker slot 51″, so as to automatically and securely interlocking therewithin.
The actuator 30″ is able to be detached from the base member 40″ by inwardly pressing each of the resilient lockers 52″ to release the resilient locker 52″ interlocking with the respective locker slot 51″. Therefore, the actuator 30″ is able to detachably and securely couple at the holder slot 41″ of the base member 40″ to form the detachably toilet seat lifter.
It is appreciated that the one of the spacers of the toilet seat 10 can be embodied as the base member 40″ by forming the holder slot 41″ at the spacer such that the base member 40″ can be integrally formed with the toilet seat 10 to retain the actuator 30″ in position.
Preferably, the actuator 30″ is made of disposable and recyclable material. Therefore, the detachable actuator 30″ allows the user to throw away the used actuator 30″ for the sanitary purpose.
Alternatively, the actuator 30″ may be able to directly and fixedly attach to the underside 12 of the toilet 10 via glue, screw, socket, or magnetic coupling methods to form the toilet seat lifter to protrude out of the peripheral edge of the toilet seat 10, so as to effectively avoid directly touching the toilet seat and/or the toilet bowl 20.
It is worth mentioning that the actuator 30, 30′, 30″ can be made of iron, steel, plastic, or rigid paper for forming a detachably disposable actuator, so that the user is able to throw away the used actuator for the sanitary purpose. Preferably, the actuator 30 is made of steel in the first embodiment for enhancing the durability thereof. The actuator 30, 30′, 30″ may be able to be detached from the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 for cleaning purpose.
It is worth mentioning that the toilet seat lifter also can be used in other lifting mechanism, such as incorporating with a trash can cover pivotally covering the trash can, so that the user is able to pivotally lift the cover between the opened and closed positions thereof without touching the hands of the user directly with the cover.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet seat lifter for a toilet seat pivotally coupling with a toilet bowl, comprising an actuator having a coupling portion adapted for extending outwardly from an outer peripheral edge of said toilet seat and a hand gripping portion extending from said coupling portion at a position away from said peripheral edge of said toilet seat in such a manner that said hand gripping portion of said actuator is adapted for being held to pivotally lift up said toilet seat from said toilet bowl at an upright unfolded position and to pivotally drop down to said toilet bowl at a lay flat folded position without directly contacting with said toilet seat by a hand of a user.

2. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a base member, having a holder slot, adapted for coupling at an underside of said toilet seat, wherein said coupling portion of said actuator is pivotally coupled with said base member at said holder slot for extending from said outer peripheral edge to enable said hand gripping portion of said actuator being pivotally swung with respect to said toilet seat between said unfolded position and said folded position.

3. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said hand gripping portion of said actuator is angularly extended from said coupling portion thereof such that said hand gripping portion of said actuator is naturally and vertically dropped down by its own weight when said toilet seat is pivotally folded at both unfolded and folded positions.

4. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said actuator further has an enlarged gripper head formed at a free end of said hand gripping portion of said actuator.

5. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuator further comprises one or more retention wings outwardly extended from said coupling portion of said actuator at a free end portion thereof for preventing said coupling portion of said actuator from being slid out of said holder slot of said base member.

6. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said base member has a top adhesive side adapted for coupling at said underside of said toilet seat, and a bottom impact absorbing side for contacting with a top rim surface of said toilet bowl, such that said base member forms a seat spacer for spacing between said underside of said toilet seat and said top rim surface of said toilet bowl.

7. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 4, wherein said base member has a top adhesive side adapted for coupling at said underside of said toilet seat, and a bottom impact absorbing side for contacting with a top rim surface of said toilet bowl, such that said base member forms a seat spacer for spacing between said underside of said toilet seat and said top rim surface of said toilet bowl.

8. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 5, wherein said base member has a top adhesive side adapted for coupling at said underside of said toilet seat, and a bottom impact absorbing side for contacting with a top rim surface of said toilet bowl, such that said base member forms a seat spacer for spacing between said underside of said toilet seat and said top rim surface of said toilet bowl.

9. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said coupling portion of said actuator is detachably and slidably coupled with said base member at said holder slot.

10. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 9, wherein said actuator is made of disposable and recyclable material.

11. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 9, wherein said base member has a top adhesive side adapted for coupling at said underside of said toilet seat, and a bottom impact absorbing side for contacting with a top rim surface of said toilet bowl, such that said base member forms a seat spacer for spacing between said underside of said toilet seat and said top rim surface of said toilet bowl.

12. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a releasable locker for releasably locking said coupling portion of said actuator at said holder slot of said base member, wherein said releasable locker has two locker slots formed at two sidewalls of said holder slot respectively and comprises two resilient lockers sidewardly and movably provided at two side edges of said coupling portion of said actuator to releasably engage with said locker slots respectively when said coupling portion of said actuator is slidably inserted into said holder slot of said base member.

13. The toilet seat lifter, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a releasable locker for releasably locking said coupling portion of said actuator at said holder slot of said base member, wherein said releasable locker has two locker slots formed at two sidewalls of said holder slot respectively and comprises two resilient lockers sidewardly and movably provided at two side edges of said coupling portion of said actuator to releasably engage with said locker slots respectively when said coupling portion of said actuator is slidably inserted into said holder slot of said base member.

14. The toile seat lifter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupling portion of said actuator has a top adhesive side adapted for coupling at said underside of said toilet seat.

15. A method of pivotally folding a toilet seat between an upright unfolded position and a lay flat folded position, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling an actuator, having a L-shape, with said toilet seat at a position that a coupling portion of said actuator is pivotally and outwardly extended from an outer peripheral edge of said toilet seat and a hand gripping portion of said actuator is outwardly extended from said peripheral edge of said toilet seat and is naturally and vertically dropped down;

(b) pivotally lifting up said hand gripping portion of said actuator;

(c) applying an upward lifting force at said hand gripping portion of said actuator to pivotally lift up said toilet seat from said folded position to said unfolded position; and

(d) releasing said upward lifting force at said hand gripping portion of said actuator such that said hand gripping portion of said actuator is naturally and vertically dropped down when said toilet seat is moved at said unfolded position.

16. The method, as recited in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

(d) pivotally lifting up said hand gripping portion of said actuator when said toilet seat is moved at said unfolded position;

(e) applying an upward holding force at said hand gripping portion of said actuator to pivotally drop down said toilet seat from said unfolded position to said folded position; and

(f) releasing said upward holding force at said hand gripping portion of said actuator such that said hand gripping portion of said actuator is naturally and vertically dropped down when said toilet seat is moved at said folded position.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein, in the steps (c) and (e), said hand gripping portion of said actuator is maintained at an upward vertical orientation.

18. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein the step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(a.1) coupling a base member at an underside of said toilet seat for extending from said outer peripheral edge outwardly, wherein said base member has a holder slot radially projected from said toilet seat; and

(a.2) slidably inserting said coupling portion of said actuator into said holder slot of said base member to enable said hand gripping portion of said actuator being pivotally moved with respect to said toilet seat.

19. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(a.1) coupling a base member at said underside of said toilet seat for extending from said outer peripheral edge outwardly, wherein said base member has a holder slot radially projected from said toilet seat; and

20. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein, in the step (a.1), said base member is adhered to said underside of said toilet seat.

21. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein, in the step (a.1), said base member is adhered to said underside of said toilet seat.

22. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein, in the step (a.1), said base member has a bottom impact absorbing side for contacting with a top rim surface of a toilet bowl, such that said base member forms a seat spacer for spacing between said underside of said toilet seat and said top rim surface of said toilet bowl.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein, in the step (a.1), said base member has a bottom impact absorbing side for contacting with a top rim surface of a toilet bowl, such that said base member forms a seat spacer for spacing between said underside of said toilet seat and said top rim surface of said toilet bowl.