초록 ▼

Described is a tool for lifting a toilet. The tool features a handle insertable into the toilet bowl in a position placing opposing ends of the handle beneath the toilet bowl rim at opposing sides of the toilet bowl, such that lifting of the handle acts to lift up the toilet via the toilet bowl rim.

Described is a tool for lifting a toilet. The tool features a handle insertable into the toilet bowl in a position placing opposing ends of the handle beneath the toilet bowl rim at opposing sides of the toilet bowl, such that lifting of the handle acts to lift up the toilet via the toilet bowl rim. In some embodiments, the handle is longitudinally extendable and collapsible between an extended position and a collapsed position to aid in placement of the handle into the lifting position, and is spring-biased into the extended position to prevent inadvertent collapse of the handle while lifting or transporting the toilet. Other embodiments include a fixed-length disposable handle secured to the toilet by tie members engaged through toilet-seat mounting holes therein.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of lifting or transporting a toilet comprising: (a) obtaining a device comprising (i) a handle assembly that is longitudinally extendable and collapsible between an extended position and a collapsed position, and (ii) opposite ends separated by the length of the handle assembly;(b) posit

1. A method of lifting or transporting a toilet comprising: (a) obtaining a device comprising (i) a handle assembly that is longitudinally extendable and collapsible between an extended position and a collapsed position, and (ii) opposite ends separated by the length of the handle assembly;(b) positioning the device such that the ends of the device engage a bowl of the toilet at an inner surface or rim thereof at opposite sides of the bowl with the handle assembly in the extended position; and(c) exerting upward force on the device so as to lift the toilet and/or maintain the toilet in an elevated position. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly is biased towards the extended position. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the device comprises: (a) a tube;(b) a rod, said rod having a first end received within the tube and a second end external to the tube; and(c) a compression spring housed within the tube, said compression spring having opposite first and second ends,wherein the first end of the compression spring engages the rod,wherein the rod is longitudinally slidable along the length of the tube between a retracted position and an extended position, andwherein the compression spring biases the rod towards the extended position. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the device further comprises a stop located within the tube at a position intermediate between the ends of the tube, said stop arranged to engage the second end of the compression spring. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the device comprises: first and second rods, each rod having first and second opposite ends, the first end of the first rod being received by a first end of the tube and the first end of the second rod being received by a second end of the tube;a stop, said stop located within the tube at a position intermediate between the first and second ends of the tube; andfirst and second compression springs, the first compression spring located within the tube on a same side of the stop as the first rod and the second compression spring located within the tube on a same side of the stop as the second rod, whereineach compression spring has opposite first and second ends,the first end of each compression spring applies outward pressure to a respective one of the rods, biasing the respective rod towards the extended position, andthe stop engages the second end of each compression spring. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the device comprises: first and second rods, each rod having first and second opposite ends, the first end of each rod being received by an opposite end of the tube;wherein the compression spring is in engagement with the first and second rods;wherein the compression spring applies outward pressure to each rod and biases each rod towards an extended position. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the device further comprises a resilient material covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the tube, thereby providing a resilient surface to facilitate manual grasping of the device. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly is a telescopic handle assembly. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein each end of the device comprises a resilient material. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein each end of the device comprises a toilet bowl engaging tip. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein each tip comprises a resilient material. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein each tip is removable from the device to allow replacement of the tip. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a lift handle or lift ring joined to an outer surface of the device. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the upward force is manually exerted on the device by manually grasping and lifting the handle assembly at a location between the ends of the device. 15. A method of lifting or transporting a toilet comprising: (a) obtaining a hand-held device comprising a generally I-shaped member having a central handle portion and two rim-engaging portions lying cross-wise to a longitudinal dimension of the central handle portion at opposing ends thereof, (b) positioning said device to place said rim-engaging portions in engagement under the rim of the toilet at opposing sides of the bowl; and (c) manually lifting the toilet by manually grasping said central handle portion and manually applying upward force directly on the central handle portion to lift the toilet upwardly on said rim-engaging portions. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the rim-engaging portions are curved at outer edges thereof that face away from the central handle portion. 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the device further comprises a retaining mechanism engaged to the handle portion of the generally I-shaped member and engaged to the toilet via at least one toilet seat mounting hole thereof in a tightened state pulling said I-shaped member toward a rear of the bowl and thereby wedging the rim engaging portions of said I-shaped member against the opposing sides of the bowl in order to retain the generally I-shaped member to the toilet. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the retaining mechanism comprises at least one tie member tied in a closed loop through the at least one toilet seat mounting hole. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the hand-held device consists only of said at least one tie member, and said handle portion and said rim-engaging portions of said generally I-shaped member. 20. The method of claim 15 wherein the hand-held device consists only of said handle portion and said rim-engaging portions of said generally I-shaped member. 21. A method of lifting or transporting a toilet comprising: (a) obtaining a hand-held device comprising an elongated handle and a pair of securing members engaged to the handle; (b) connecting said securing members to the toilet via two toilet seat mounting holes thereof to secure the handle to the toilet in a position lying cross-wise to a bowl of the toilet and (c) manually raising the toilet via manual grasping and lifting of said handle. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the hand-held device consists only of said elongated handle and said pair of securing members. 23. A method of lifting or transporting a toilet comprising: (a) obtaining a device comprising:(i) a handle assembly; and(ii) a pair of toilet engaging members connected or connectable to the handle assembly in spaced apart positions separated from one another in a longitudinal direction of the handle assembly;the handle assembly being arranged to movably support at least one of the toilet engaging members to enable selective movement of said one of the toilet engaging members relative to the other one of said toilet engaging members in the longitudinal direction between an extended position further from said other one of the toilet engaging members and a retracted position nearer to said other one of the toilet engaging members;(b) positioning the device to place the pair of toilet engaging members in engagement with an inner surface or rim of a bowl of said toilet at opposing sides thereof with said at least one of the toilet engaging members in the extended position; and(c) at a location between said spaced apart positions of the toilet-engaging members, manually grasping the handle assembly and raising the toilet via manual lifting of said handle at said location. 24. A device to aid in lifting or transporting of a toilet, said device comprising: a handle assembly arranged to carry a pair of installed toilet engaging members at respective positions spaced longitudinally apart from one another on said handle assembly; andmultiple sets of toilet engaging members, each set comprising a respective pair of toilet engaging members that differ from the toilet engaging members of each other set, said multiple sets of toilet engaging members being interchangeable for one another in the installed positions on said handle assembly. 25. The device of claim 24 wherein the handle assembly is arranged to movably support at least one of the installed toilet engaging members to enable selective movement of said one of the installed toilet engaging members relative to the other one of said installed toilet engaging members in the longitudinal direction between an extended position further from said other one of the installed toilet engaging members and a retracted position nearer to said other one of the installed toilet engaging members. 26. The device of claim 25 wherein the multiple sets of toilet engaging members comprise a pair of toilet engaging tips useable as the installed pair of toilet engaging members, said toilet engaging tips being arranged to engage an inner surface of a toilet bowl and/or to engage an underside of the rim of the toilet bowl when said at least one of the installed toilet engaging members is in the extended position. 27. The device of claim 24 wherein the multiple sets of toilet engaging members comprise a pair of toilet engaging tips arranged to engage an inner surface of a toilet bowl and/or to engage an underside of the rim of the toilet bowl when said at least one of the toilet engaging members is in the extended position.