Toilet seat fastening assembly

Abstract

A fastening assembly may include a nut, a follower coupled to the nut, and a fastener. The fastener includes a head and a shaft configured to extend into a bore of the toilet bowl. The shaft has a first threaded region and a second threaded region that is different from the first threaded region. The follower engages the first threaded region and translates the nut toward the second threaded region in response to rotation of the fastener. When the nut reaches the second threaded region, the nut engages the second threaded region and translates toward the head in response to rotation of the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastening assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, the fastening assembly comprising:
 a nut;   a follower coupled to the nut; and   a fastener including a head and a shaft configured to extend into a bore of the toilet bowl, the shaft having a first threaded region and a second threaded region that is different from the first threaded region,   wherein the follower engages the first threaded region and translates the nut toward the second threaded region in response to rotation of the fastener, and wherein when the nut reaches the second threaded region, the nut engages the second threaded region and translates toward the head in response to rotation of the fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the nut engages the second threaded region and translates toward the head, the follower decouples from the nut. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a quick disconnect mechanism that couples the follower to the nut. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first threaded region is a coarse threaded region and the second threaded region is a fine threaded region. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the follower includes bulbous elements that engage the coarse threaded region, and wherein the nut includes threads that engage the fine threaded region. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nut is connected to a flange that is configured to be received within a hinge post of the toilet seat to inhibit rotation of the nut when the fastener is rotated. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a helical washer that connects the flange to the nut, wherein the helical washer is compressed in response to the nut translating along the shaft of the fastener toward the head of the fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the helical washer is configured to be disposed between the toilet bowl and the nut when the nut is coupled to the fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head includes a first segment coupled to the shaft, a second segment configured to be engaged by a tool to rotate the fastener, and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments, the shear segment having a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when a torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first segment is also configured to be engaged by the tool to rotate the fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The fastening assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first segment and the second segment of the fastener have similarly-shaped outer surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second segments are hex-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . A fastening assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, the fastening assembly comprising:
 a fastener including a head and a shaft configured to extend into a bore of the toilet bowl; and   a coil nut surrounding the shaft and including a flange, a nut, and a helical washer disposed between the flange and the nut,   wherein, in response to rotation of the fastener, the nut engages the shaft and translates toward the head, compressing the helical washer between the toilet bowl and the nut.   
     
     
         14 . The fastening assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the helical washer deforms radially outward when being compressed and defines an outer dimension that is larger than the bore to inhibit removal of the fastening assembly though the bore. 
     
     
         15 . A fastening assembly for mounting a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, the fastening assembly comprising:
 a fastener including a head and a shaft configured to extend into a bore of the toilet bowl;   a coil nut surrounding the shaft and including a flange, a nut, and a helical washer disposed between the flange and the nut; and   a follower coupled to the nut,   wherein, in response to initial rotation of the fastener, the follower engages the shaft and translates the nut toward the head, and in response to continued rotation of the fastener, the nut engages the shaft, continues to translate toward the head, and compresses the helical washer between the toilet bowl and the nut.   
     
     
         16 . The fastening assembly of  claim 15 , wherein after the nut engages the shaft, the follower decouples from the nut. 
     
     
         17 . The fastening assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the helical washer deforms radially outward when being compressed and defines an outer dimension that is larger than the bore to inhibit removal of the fastening assembly through the bore. 
     
     
         18 . The fastening assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the follower engages a coarse threaded region of the shaft for initially tightening the fastening assembly before the nut engages the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The fastening assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a quick disconnect mechanism that couples the follower to the nut. 
     
     
         20 . The fastening assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the head includes a first segment coupled to the shaft, a second segment configured to be engaged by a tool to rotate the fastener, and a shear segment connecting the first and second segments, the shear segment having a lower torque resistance than the first and second segments such that the shear segment breaks when a torque applied to the second segment reaches a predetermined amount.