초록 ▼

A toilet assembly comprising: a toilet bowl; a toilet seat; and a hinge pivotally connecting the toilet seat to the toilet bowl, the hinge including a base portion connected to the toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material; a leaf portion connected to the toilet seat, t

A toilet assembly comprising: a toilet bowl; a toilet seat; and a hinge pivotally connecting the toilet seat to the toilet bowl, the hinge including a base portion connected to the toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material; a leaf portion connected to the toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; and a living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a relatively flexible material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A toilet seat hinge comprising: a base portion connectable to a toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connectable to a toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base

1. A toilet seat hinge comprising: a base portion connectable to a toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connectable to a toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion;wherein the toilet seat includes a ring and a cover, and wherein the leaf portion includes a ring leaf connectable to the ring, and a cover leaf connectable to the cover, and wherein the living hinge portion pivotally connects the ring leaf to the base portion and pivotally connects the cover leaf to the base portion;wherein the living hinge portion has thereon a first axially-extending rib adjacent the ring leaf and a second axially-extending rib adjacent the cover leaf, the first and second ribs functioning as flexible lip seals that conform to the surface of the attached ring or cover to prevent any gaps once the hinge is assembled to the ring and the cover. 2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the living hinge portion are injection molded together. 3. The hinge of claim 2 wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. 4. The hinge of claim 3 wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic. 5. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the living hinge portion is formed by a single mass of material connected to both the ring leaf and the cover leaf. 6. A toilet seat hinge comprising: a base portion connectable to a toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connectable to a toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion;wherein the toilet seat includes a ring and a cover, and wherein the leaf portion includes a ring leaf connectable to the ring, and a cover leaf connectable to the cover, and wherein the living hinge portion pivotally connects the ring leaf to the base portion and pivotally connects the cover leaf to the base portion;wherein the ring leaf and the cover leaf each have opposite ends and an axial length extending between the ends, wherein the living hinge portion separates the ring leaf from the base portion over a substantial part of the length of the ring leaf, and wherein the living hinge portion separates the cover leaf from the base portion over a substantial part of the length of the cover leaf;wherein the hinge further includes webs of relatively rigid material connecting the ring leaf to the base portion adjacent the ends of the ring leaf, and webs of relatively rigid material connecting the cover leaf to the base portion adjacent the ends of the cover leaf. 7. The hinge of claim 6 wherein the base portion, the ring leaf, the cover leaf and the webs are made of a single mass of relatively rigid material. 8. The hinge of claim 7 wherein the living hinge portion, the base portion, the ring leaf, the cover leaf and the webs are injection molded together. 9. The hinge of claim 8 and further comprising a stepped interface between the living hinge portion and each of the ring leaf and the cover leaf. 10. The hinge of claim 8 wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic. 11. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the base portion has a lower surface having thereon a flexible or compressible material engageable with the toilet bowl. 12. The hinge of claim 6 wherein the living hinge portion is formed by a single mass of material connected to both the ring leaf and the cover leaf. 13. The hinge of claim 6 wherein the base portion has a lower surface having thereon a flexible or compressible material engageable with the toilet bowl. 14. A toilet assembly comprising: a toilet bowl;a toilet seat; anda hinge pivotally connecting the toilet seat to the toilet bowl, the hinge including a base portion connected to the toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connected to the toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion;wherein the living hinge portion has thereon an axially-extending rib sealingly engaging the toilet seat and functioning as a flexible lip seal that conforms to the surface of the toilet seat to prevent any gaps. 15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the living hinge portion are injection molded together, wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic. 16. A toilet assembly comprising: a toilet bowl;a toilet seat; anda hinge pivotally connecting the toilet seat to the toilet bowl, the hinge including a base portion connected to the toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connected to the toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf;wherein the leaf portion has opposite ends and an axial length extending between the ends, and wherein the living hinge portion separates the leaf portion from the base portion over a substantial part of the length of the leaf portion;wherein the hinge further includes webs of relatively rigid material connecting the leaf portion to the base portion adjacent the ends of the leaf portion. 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the webs are made of a single mass of relatively rigid material and are injection molded together with the living hinge portion. 18. The assembly of claim 17 and further comprising a stepped interface between the living hinge portion and the leaf portion. 19. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the living hinge portion are injection molded together, wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic. 20. A toilet assembly comprising: a toilet bowl;a toilet seat; anda hinge pivotally connecting the toilet seat to the toilet bowl, the hinge including a base portion connected to the toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connected to the toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion;wherein the base portion has a lower surface having thereon a flexible or compressible material engaging the toilet bowl. 21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the living hinge portion are injection molded together, wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic. 22. A toilet seat hinge comprising: a base portion connectable to a toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connectable to a toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material; anda living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion;wherein the toilet seat includes a ring and a cover, and wherein the leaf portion includes a ring leaf connectable to the ring, and a cover leaf connectable to the cover, and wherein the living hinge portion pivotally connects the ring leaf to the base portion and pivotally connects the cover leaf to the base portion;further comprising a stepped interface between the living hinge portion and each of the ring leaf and the cover leaf. 23. The hinge of claim 22 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the living hinge portion are injection molded together. 24. The hinge of claim 23 wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic. 25. The hinge of claim 22 wherein the living hinge portion is formed by a single mass of material connected to both the ring leaf and the cover leaf. 26. The hinge of claim 22 wherein the base portion has a lower surface having thereon a flexible or compressible material engageable with the toilet bowl. 27. A toilet assembly comprising: a toilet bowl;a toilet seat; anda hinge pivotally connecting the toilet seat to the toilet bowl, the hinge including a base portion connected to the toilet bowl, the base portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a leaf portion connected to the toilet seat, the leaf portion being made of a relatively rigid material;a living hinge portion pivotally connecting the base portion to the leaf portion, the living hinge portion being made of a material that is different from the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf portion and that is relatively flexible compared to the material of the base portion and the material of the leaf; anda stepped interface between the living hinge portion and the leaf portion. 28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the base portion, the leaf portion and the living hinge portion are injection molded together, wherein the living hinge portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the base portion and the leaf portion are made of a rigid thermoplastic.