Toilet lid closure apparatus

Abstract

A toilet closure apparatus adapted to mount on a toilet having a toilet seat, a toilet lid, and a tank assembly includes a flushing mechanism configured to trigger a flushing event, a cable assembly coupled to the flushing mechanism having a cable, and a release mechanism operatively coupled to the cable. Movement of the flushing mechanism can axially move the cable to actuate the release mechanism to rotate the toilet lid from an open position to a closed position. The release mechanism can include one of a cam mechanism, a latch mechanism, and a ball detent mechanism.

1 . A toilet closure apparatus adapted to mount on a toilet having a toilet seat, a toilet lid, and a tank assembly, the toilet closure apparatus comprising:
 a flushing mechanism actuation of which triggers a flushing event;   a cable assembly coupled to the flushing mechanism, the cable assembly including a cable; and   a release mechanism operatively coupled to the cable, movement of the flushing mechanism axially moving the cable and causing the cable to actuate the release mechanism, actuation of the release mechanism causing rotation of the toilet lid from an open position to a closed position, the release mechanism including one of a cam mechanism, a latch mechanism, and a ball detent mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cam mechanism includes:
 a first cam member coupled to the cable; 
 a second cam member rotatably coupled to the first cam member; and 
 a cam follower rotatably coupled to the second cam member and the toilet lid, axial movement of the cable imparting rotational motion to the cam follower, the rotational motion of the cam follower causing the toilet lid to move from the open position to the closed position. 
 
     
     
         3 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second cam member includes an end portion that engages the cam follower when the toilet lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 3  wherein axial movement of the cable causes the second cam member to disengage the cam follower. 
     
     
         5 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the latch mechanism includes:
 a bell crank coupled to the cable; 
 a lever arm rotatably coupled to the bell crank; and 
 a cam follower rotatably coupled to the lever arm and the toilet lid, axial movement of the cable imparting rotational motion to the cam follower, the rotational motion of the cam follower causing the toilet lid to move from the open position to the closed position. 
 
     
     
         6 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a link member rotatably coupled to the bell crank and the lever arm.   
     
     
         7 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the lever arm includes a lip portion that engages the cam follower when the toilet lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 7  wherein axial movement of the cable causes the lever arm to disengage the cam follower. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ball detent mechanism includes:
 a detent spring loaded pin; 
 a detent ball coupled to the detent spring loaded pin; 
 a biasing mechanism arranged to position the detent ball in engagement with a groove disposed on a lid hinge that rotatably supports the toilet lid when the toilet lid is in the open position, axial movement of the cable disengaging the detent ball from the groove which allows the toilet lid to move from the open position to the closed position. 
 
     
     
         10 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a housing that houses at least the detent spring loaded pin and the biasing mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an override mechanism configured to restrict movement of the toilet lid when the flushing event is triggered while a user is seated on the toilet seat.   
     
     
         12 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the override mechanism includes:
 a tab member disposed on a lid hinge that rotatably moves the toilet lid; and 
 an override groove disposed on a seat hinge that rotatably supports the toilet seat having a tab securing portion, the override groove arranged to secure the tab member in the tab securing portion when the user is seated on the toilet seat. 
 
     
     
         13 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cable securing device that secures the cable assembly to the toilet.   
     
     
         14 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the cable securing device includes:
 a cable stop configured to restrict movement of the cable assembly; and 
 a securing nut having a body that extends between an upper flange and a lower flange, the lower flange having an opening that is sized such that an interior surface of the lower flange abuts a lower surface of the cable stop. 
 
     
     
         15 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flushing mechanism includes a reversible flush arm. 
     
     
         16 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flushing mechanism includes:
 a handle that is rotatable from a rest position to a flush position to trigger the flushing event, the handle including a shaft projecting outwardly from an inner surface of the handle; and 
 a reversible flush arm having a first flange and a second flange that is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first flange, the first and second flanges configured to be coupleable to the shaft. 
 
     
     
         17 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a manual override mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a damper that allows movement of the toilet seat or the toilet lid at a controlled speed. 
     
     
         19 . The toilet closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a delay mechanism that provides a delay to allow the cam mechanism, the latch mechanism, or the ball detent mechanism to return to an initial position after the flushing event is triggered. 
     
     
         20 . An override mechanism adapted to prevent movement of a toilet lid when a user is seated on a toilet seat, the override mechanism comprising:
 a tab member disposed on a lid hinge that rotatably moves the toilet lid; and   an override groove disposed on a seat hinge that rotatably supports the toilet seat having a tab securing portion, the override groove arranged to engage the tab member in the tab securing portion when the user is seated on the toilet seat.   
     
     
         21 . The override mechanism of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a biasing mechanism arranged to restrict the tab member from engaging the tab securing portion when the user is not seated on the toilet seat.   
     
     
         22 . A cable securing device adapted for securing a cable assembly to a toilet, the cable securing device comprising:
 a cable stop configured to restrict movement of the cable assembly; and   a securing nut having a body that extends between an upper flange and a lower flange, the lower flange having an opening that is sized such that an interior surface of the lower flange abuts a lower surface of the cable stop.   
     
     
         23 . The cable securing device of  claim 22  wherein the securing nut includes a slit that extends through the body, the upper flange, and the lower flange, the slit sized to secure the securing nut to the cable assembly.