Hygenic Toilet Seat Lifter

Abstract

A lifting device for a toilet seat allowing the user to raise and lower the toilet seat without having to physically touch the seat. The device consists of a mounting plate, a shield, and a lifting member, with all surface being curved and without crevices. The shield extends horizontally and vertically beyond the edges of the lifting member.

1 . A method for lifting a toilet seat of a toilet with a toilet seat lifter comprising a handle jutting outwardly from the toilet seat for lifting and lowering said toilet seat without touching the toilet seat thereby offering a means to hygienically lift the toilet seat, comprising the steps of:
 providing said toilet seat lifter;   installing said toilet seat lifter onto an underside surface of said toilet seat such that a first horizontally oriented portion of the toilet seat lifter abuts said underside surface of said toilet seat and is removably attached via an attachment system and a vertically oriented shield extension depends downward outside said toilet with a lifting member projecting outwards away from said toilet;   placing one or more of a finger and a hand onto a finger groove of said lifting member; and,   raising or lowering said toilet seat lifter, and subsequently said toilet seat, as needed.   
   
   
       2 . A toilet seat lifter, comprising:
 a mounting plate having a first horizontally oriented portion secured to the underside of a toilet seat of a toilet bowl;   a vertically oriented shield extending downwardly from said first horizontally oriented portion of the mounting plate, said shield extending around an outside perimeter of said toilet bowl, said shield extending from said mounting plate to position below a rim of the toilet bowl;   a lifting member having a second horizontally oriented portion, extending substantially horizontal, and projecting away from the toilet bowl relative to said vertically oriented shield, said lifting member having a finger groove disposed on an underside surface; and   an attachment means located on an upper surface of said mounting plate first horizontally oriented portion,   whereby when attached to the bottom of the toilet seat, the shield extends beyond the horizontal and vertical limits of the lifting member, and is displaced outside the perimeter of the toilet bowl, effectively shielding the finger groove from deposition of liquids or aerosols emanating from the toilet bowl.   
   
   
       3 . The toilet seat lifter of  claim 2  further comprising a toilet seat lifter formed of germicidal or bacteriostatic material. 
   
   
       4 . The toilet seat lifter of  claim 2  further comprising a display of advertising matter printed or formed upon said toilet seat lifter. 
   
   
       5 . The toilet seat lifter of  claim 2  wherein said attachment means further comprises an adhesive protected by a removeable sheet. 
   
   
       6 . The toilet seat lifter of  claim 2  wherein all the mounting plate, the shield and the shield join at curved surfaces, with no crevices. 
   
   
       7 . A method of retrofitting a toilet seat with a toilet seat lifter, comprising providing a toilet seat lifter further comprising
 a) a mounting plate having a first horizontally oriented portion;   b) a vertically oriented shield extending downwardly from said first horizontally oriented portion, said shield extending around an outside perimeter of said toilet bowl, said shield extending from said mounting plate to position below a rim of the toilet bowl;   c) a lifting member having a second horizontally oriented portion, extending substantially horizontal, and projecting away from the toilet bowl relative to said vertically oriented shield, said lifting member having a finger groove disposed on an underside surface; and   d) an attachment means provided as an adhesive layer protected by a removeable sheet located on an upper surface of said mounting plate first horizontally oriented portion,
 a toilet seat, with a horizontally oriented underside, 
 cleaning the underside of said toilet seat, 
 removing the removeable sheet from said adhesive, and 
 applying said adhesive layer on mounting plate first horizontally oriented portion to the horizontally oriented underside of the toilet seat, 
 whereby said toilet seat lifter is semi-permanently attached to the toilet seat, and when attached to the bottom of the toilet seat, the shield extends beyond the horizontal and vertical limits of the lifting member, and is displaced outside the perimeter of the toilet bowl, effectively shielding the finger groove from deposition of liquids or aerosols emanating from the toilet bowl. 
   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  whereby said toilet seat lifter is attached within 15 degrees of the lateral axis of a toilet seat user seated on the toilet seat. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  whereby the attachment means further comprises providing self-tapping screws with associated hardware for reinforcing the attachment of the toilet seat lifter to the toilet seat. 
   
   
       10 . The toilet seat lifter of  claim 2 , wherein the lifting member further comprises a lifting member with an aperture.