A FASTENING SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR INSTALLATION OF THE TOILET SEAT &COVERS AND HINGE SYSTEMS USED IN THE TOILET SEAT & COVERS TO THE SANITARYWARE PRODUCT

SURFACES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fastening system and installation method of said system used for installation of the hinge systems used in the toilet seat &covers and thus for the toilet seat &covers to the sanitaryware products, wherein the fastening system allows for easy installation of toilet seat & covers from the upper surface of the sanitaryware products and comprises a spider type fastening element enabling the hinge system to resist against loosening under dynamic loads.

Background of the Invention Nowadays, the variety of the produced toilet seat& covers suitable thereof creates differences in the installation methods of these toilet seat &covers. The majority of toilet seat &covers are generally fixed to the sanitaryware product surface, regardless of the hinge system, by means of a screw passing through a hole disposed on the sanitaryware product surface and a nut corresponding to said screw in the lower part of the sanitaryware product surface. In today's modern toilet seat designs, the installation of the toilet seat & covers to the sanitaryware product surface by means of the systems in the form of screws and nuts used in the prior art becomes impossible due to minimization of the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the sanitaryware product. This situation has made the necessity of developing a fastening system and an installation method enabling to reach the holes disposed on the toilet seat from the upper surface inevitable. In the known practices, butterfly type fastening elements, screws and nuts are used in the installations carried out using the mounting hole disposed on the sanitaryware product surface.

In designs available today, toilet seat & covers are fixed to the sanitaryware product using many different methods. In the patent EP1177756, the part referred to as the Oscillating element' enables the toilet seat& cover to be mounted on to the sanitaryware product by means of using screws and nuts. However, the oscillating fastening element provided in said system will not be able to prevent loosening and movement of the hinge system against the heavy loads over time since it does not have a structure capable of providing a prestress to the system. In the documents no. DE102007010930 and DE20214888, tightening through the hole disposed on the closet/sanitaryware product and fixing the hinge system is carried out using different types of fastening elements. In the systems of said patents, a butterfly fastening element passed through the mounting hole disposed on the closet/sanitaryware product and having threads corresponding to a screw or a butterfly fastening element having a nut corresponding to a screw in the lower part thereof is provided. Fixing is carried out by means of pulling the butterfly fastening element disposed in said systems towards the closet/sanitaryware product surface using the screw. However, creation of prestress cannot be provided with the fastening elements used in the prior art.

In the inventive fastening system, the spider type fastening element having at least four legs and being rotatable about a pivot nut, after being passed through the mounting hole disposed on the closet/sanitaryware product upper surface, is brought to the horizontal position and fixing is provided by holding onto the lower surface of the closet /sanitaryware product by means of the legs thereof. As per design of the spider type fastening element, said element creates a prestress in the screw mechanism by undergoing an elastic and/or plastic deformation within itself after the taking up the slack between the pivot nut and the screw. Said prestress comprises a feature preventing the hinge system from becoming loose under different dynamic loads.

Object of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to develop a fastening system allowing for easy installation of hinge systems used in toilet seat & covers and for easy installation of toilet seat & covers onto the sanitaryware product surface from the upper surface of the sanitaryware products and enabling the hinge system to resist against loosening under dynamic loads in the connection of the hinge systems.

Description of the Figures:

Figure 1: General view of the fastening system parts according to the present invention

Figure 2: Passing position of the fastening system according to the present invention through the hole disposed on the sanitaryware product surface

Figure 3: Position of the fastening system according to the present invention after passed through the hole disposed on the sanitaryware product

Figure 4: Screw slack taking up position in the fastening system according to the present invention Figure 5: Normal tightening position of the fastening system according to the present invention

Figure 6: Prestressed tightening position of the fastening system according to the present invention

Figure 7: Top view of the four legged spider type fastening element of the fastening system according to the present invention

Figure 8: Bottom view of the four legged spider type fastening element of the fastening system according to the present invention

References:

A: Fastening system 1. Fastener screw 2. Washer i

i

3. Pivot nut

4. Spider type fastening element creating prestress in the system

5. Hinge system

6. Mounting hole

7. Spider type fastening element lower surface

8. Spider type fastening element leg

9. Slot of the fastener screw on the fastening element

10. Fastening element concave surfaces

11. Fastening element convex surfaces

12. Fastening element edge

13. Sanitaryware product/Closet lower surface

14. Sanitaryware product/Closet upper surface

15. Lugs

Description of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a fastening system and installation method of said system used for installation of the hinge systems used in the toilet seat &covers and thus for the toilet seat &covers to the sanitaryware products, wherein the fastening system allows for easy installation of toilet seat&covers from the upper surface of the sanitaryware products and comprises a spider type fastening element enabling the hinge system to resist against loosening under dynamic loads.

The fastening system (A) according to the present invention comprises a fastener screw (1), a washer (2), a pivot nut (3) and a spider type fastening element (4) creating a prestress in the system. The pivot nut (3) has a cylindrical structure and comprises a slot for positioning the fastener screw (1) therein which is perpendicular to the central axis of the cylinder from the outer surface of the cylinder and comprises threads having the same dimensions as the screw and threaded end. The fastening element (4) includes the end portions which can be named as lugs (15) which prevent pivot nut (3) from dropping down and provides a well- supported assembly.

The spider type fastening element (4) developed within the scope of the present invention comprises a structure having at least four legs (8) to be in contact with the closet/sanitaryware product lower surface (13). At least two of the legs (8) are positioned on one end of the fastening element (4) and at least two of them (8) positioned on the other end. The structure of the fastening element (4) is shown in Figure 7. The fastening element (4) comprises a descending and ascending corrugated structure, wherein the concave surfaces (10) and the convex surfaces (11) follow each other. The concave surfaces (10) and the convex surfaces (11) comprise circular bends so as to form a corrugation. A slot (9) for positioning the fastener screw (1) is provided in the middle of the structure forming a corrugation in the form of concave and convex surfaces between the edges (12). The edges (12) of the fastening element join in the concave end portions (10) close to the legs (8) after the slot (9) formation, then, separate again and terminate by forming at least two legs (8) on both ends (Figure 7, Figure 8). If the fastening element is viewed from the top or front surface as shown in Figure 7, it is seen that the middle portion thereof comprises a structure having an elevation relative to the end portions close to the legs, forming the convex surfaces (11) and descending towards the end portions, forming the concave surfaces (10). The edges (12) forming a slot (9) with such structure join in the end portions forming the concave surface (10) and being lower than the middle portion forming the convex surface (11), separate again towards the legs (8), form the legs (8) to be in contact with the sanitaryware product/closet lower surface (13) by forming an upwards elevation. The legs (8) being higher relative to the concave surfaces (10) with the structure forming again an elevation in the leg (8) portion and the corrugation provided in said structure enable the legs (8) to be oriented upwards so as to be in contact with the sanitaryware product lower surface. Thanks to the corrugated structure having these different heights of the fastening element (4), provision of a prestress to the system and fixing of the fastening element by means of exerting a pressure on said legs (8) by the contact with the sanitaryware product/closet surface are achieved. The legs (8) of the fastening element press on the sanitaryware product/closet lower surface (13) after the completion of the tightening process. The convex surface (11) formed in the middle portion of the particular structure of the fastening element (4) developed within the scope of the present invention enters into the mounting hole (6) during the installation and can be raised inside the hole (6) by tightening of the screw (1), thereby allowing for a more durable installation by causing said element (4) to stretch and the pressure on the legs (8) to increase. In other words, the four legged and corrugated structure of the inventive fastening element (4) referred to as spider type due to the particular structure thereof enables an installation that is more resistant against the loosening by providing a prestress to the system. In the fastening system according to the present invention, the fastener screw (1) is passed through the washer (2), placed into the slot disposed on the hinge system (5), passed through the slot (9) provided in the middle portion of the spider type fastening element (4) and screwed to the pivot nut (3). Said connection is shown in Figure 1. Fastening element (4) is able to move on its lower surface (7) and in the pivot nut (3) axis to move between its horizontal and vertical position.

In the fastening system according to the present invention, after the fastener screw (1) is screwed to the pivot nut (3), the spider type fastening element (4) is rotated on the lower surface (7) thereof in the pivot nut (3) axis so as to partially or completely cover the threads of the fastener screw (1) and brought into the vertical position as shown in Figure 2. The fastening element (4) brought into the vertical position shown in Figure 2 is passed downwards in the vertical position through the mounting hole (6) disposed on the sanitaryware product/closet through which the installation of the toilet seat & cover on to the sanitaryware product/closet will be provided and then brought into the horizontal position by being rotated about the axis of the pivot nut (3). The horizontal position of the spider type fastening element is shown in Figure 3. Contact of the legs (8) of the spider type fastening element (4) with the sanitaryware product/closet lower surface is provided by taking up the slack of the fastener screw (1) as shown in Figure 4. Then, the spider type fastening element (4) and the pivot nut (3) are provided with the position shown in Figure 5 by tightening of the fastener screw (1). In this position, the hinge system (5) is in contact with the sanitaryware product/closet upper surface (14). Legs (8) are in contact with the lower surface (13) of the sanitaryware product. Lugs (15) of the fastening element are in contact with the pivot nut (3) and pivot nut (3) is hold by the lugs/ends (15) of the fastening element (4) and is fixed between the lugs (15). After this step, if the fastener screw (1) is tightened to the required torque amount, the spider type fastening element (4) undergoes elastic and/or plastic deformation as per the design thereof and provides a prestress to the fastening system by taking the position shown in Figure 6. In this position, the convex surface (11) of the spider type fastening element (4) disposed in the middle portion of the corrugated structure thereof enter into the mounting hole (6) disposed on the sanitaryware product/closet, can be raised therein upon tightening of the screw (1) and a prestress in the system is provided and a pressure on the legs (8) is exerted. Thanks to the prestressed connection developed within the scope of the present invention, a difference compared to the other systems providing rigid connection is created; moreover, a connection resistant to loosening even under the dynamic loads exerted on the hinge system (5) is obtained.