Toilet Fastening Apparatus

Abstract

A toilet seat fastening apparatus for use in tightening a toilet seat with a bolt having a plurality of bolt threads to a porcelain toilet bowl that defines a bolt hole, includes a body member having a channel extending between upper and lower ends that is configured to receive the bolt therethrough. The channel includes channel threads complementary to the bolt threads. The body member includes a central portion having a pair of opposed flanges extending outwardly and configured to be grasped by a user's fingers. The body member includes an upper portion situated atop the central portion having a diameter complementary to a diameter of the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole so as to be selectively positioned therein. The body member may include a lower portion situated below the central portion and configured to be engaged by a wrench. The upper, central, and lower portions have a unitary construction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toilet seat fastening apparatus for use in tightening a toilet seat with a seat fastening bolt having a plurality of bolt threads to a porcelain toilet bowl that defines a bolt hole, said fastening apparatus comprising:
 a body member having an upper end and an opposed lower end and defining a channel extending longitudinally therebetween that is configured to receive the bolt, said channel having a plurality of channel threads complementary to the plurality of bolt threads so that said body member is selectively threadably received onto the seat fastening bolt;   wherein said body member includes:
 a central portion having a pair of opposed flanges extending outwardly and configured to be grasped by a user's fingers; and 
 an upper portion situated atop said central portion having a diameter complementary to a diameter of the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole so as to be selectively positioned therein. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said body member includes a lower portion situated below said central portion and configured to be engaged by a wrench, whereby, to be rotatably coupled to the seat fastening bolt. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said central, upper, and lower portions of said body member include a unitary construction such that all portions are selectively rotated simultaneously relative to the bolt. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of said body member is a nut having a hexagonal configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said central portion of said body member includes a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole so as not to be received therein. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein said central portion of said body member is immediately adjacent the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole when said upper portion of said body member is situated within the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said central portion of said body member includes a main section having a generally cylindrical configuration, said pair of opposed flanges extending outwardly from said main section. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said upper portion of said body member includes a generally cylindrical configuration and is constructed of a generally resilient material. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said body member includes a generally cylindrical configuration and is constructed of a generally resilient material. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said upper portion of said body member includes a plurality of spaced apart flexible discs, said plurality of discs configured to conform in a friction fit engagement to a configuration of the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole when received therein. 
     
     
         11 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said body member includes a plurality of spaced apart flexible discs, said plurality of discs configured to conform to a configuration of the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole when received therein. 
     
     
         12 . The fastening apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein each disc includes a diameter greater than a diameter of the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole such said plurality of discs are situated in the porcelain toilet bowl bolt hole in a friction fit relationship when received therein.