GB2182383A

GB2182383A - Fastening means for a lavatory cover

Info

Publication number: GB2182383A
Application number: GB08625467A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Oakes; Stephen Oakes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-29
Filing date: 1986-10-24
Publication date: 1987-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-24
Also published as: GB8625467D0; GB2182383B

Abstract

The fastening means comprise a pivotable handle 20 movable between a fastening position, in which the handle 20 projects forward from the rear of the lavatory bowl to prevent the cover being lifted, and a release position in which the handle 20 is swung aside to allow the lavatory seat and cover 2 to be lifted. The handle is retained in its fastening position by a spring-loaded detent 22 which can be withdrawn to release the handle for movement. Detent 22 is engagable with a selected one of five notches 26 in spindle 18 of handle 20-the outer end of detent 22 forms a release member 28 carrying a pull knob. Spindle 18 is received in a vertical bore 16 of a bracket 10 retained in position by the bolts or screws which retain the seat and cover 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Locking means for a lavatory cover Field of the Invention This invention relates to locking means for a lavatory cover.

Background to the Invention Young children of toddler age are fascinated by water in a lavatory bowl and frequently place their hands in the bowl or water, or throw objects into the water. The invention aims to provide locking means which enable the lavatory cover to be locked in a closed position but which can readily be released by an adult or older child.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention locking means for a lavatory cover comprises support means for attachment to the lavatory bowl or other fixed part of the lavatory, a locking member mounted on the support means about a substantially vertical axis and capable of occupying a locking position in which the locking member overlies the cover and thereby prevents lifting movement of the cover, or a release position in which the locking member is displaced to the rear of the cover and allows lifting movement of the cover to reveal the bowl, and a release member manually operable to cause or allow the locking member to change from its locking position to its release position.

In its locking position, the locking member may extend forwardly over the cover from the rear of the bowl, in which case the support means is conveniently attachable to the bowl by means of the bolts or studs which secure the lavatory seat and cover to the bowl.

The support mens are preferably such that the locking means can be secured in position on the bowl without removal of the seat and cover, and this is conveniently achieved by providing the support means with slots which enable the support means to be slid into position when the bolts or studs are slackened.

The support means may have holes instead of slots, but this requires the bolts and screws to be removed and then re-attached.

The pivot axis may be located centrally and symmetrically at the rear of the bowl, and detent means may be provided to retain the locking member in its locking position, the release member being capable of releasing the detent means to free the locking member so that the latter can then be manually pivoted.

The detent means may comprise a springloaded detent engageable in a notch in a spindle which rotatably mounts the locking member in a bore of the support means, the detent automatically re-entering the notch when the locking member is swung back from the release position to the locking position.

The notch is preferably one of a plurality of notches disposed at spaced positions along the spindle, the detent being engageable with a selected one of the notches dependent on the required height of the locking member necessary to clear the cover.

Locking means according to the invention and fitted to a lavatory will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lavatory with the locking means fitted, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the locking means in a locking condition, Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2, and Figure 4 is a plan view of a support bracket of the locking means.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to Fig. 1, the lavatory has a bowl 1 provided with a seat (not shown) and a cover 2. The seat and cover are hinged to the bowl about a horizontal pivot axis in a conventional manner. The lavatory is fitted with locking means, generally indicated at 3, which act to hold the cover in its closed position shown in Fig. 1 to prevent very young children gaining access to the lavatory bowl or the water therein.

The locking means 3 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 2 to 4. The locking means comprises a bracket 10 which has two slots 12 which open at the front edge 11 of the bracket and which enable the locking means to be slid forwardly into position without removing the seat and cover, in merely being necessary to slacken off the bolts or screws which retain the seat and cover, slide the locking means into position and then retighten the bolts or screws. The bracket 10 has an upstanding portion 14 having a cylindrical bore 16 serving as a vertical pivot axis for a spindle 18 of a locking member in the form of a handle 20.

The upstanding portion 14 has a detent 22 the inner conical end of which is urged by a helical compression spring 24 into engagement with a selected one of five notches 26 in the spindle 18. The outer end of the detent 22 forms a manually operable release member 28 which carries a pull knob (not shown) and which can be pulled outwardly with respect to the upstanding portion 14 to free the handle 20 for pivotal movement about the vertical axis defined by the bore 16. The pivot axis of the spindle 18 is therefore centrally and symmetrically disposed at the rear of the bowl.

The five notches 26 are provided to enable the handle 20 to be set at a height dependent on the thickness of the lavatory seat and cover. Hence, the detent 22 is engaged with a selected one of the notches 26 to position the handle 20 at the required height. In Fig. 2, the detent 22 is shown engaged with the up permost notch 26, so the handle 20 is at its lowermost position.

In its locking position, the handle 20 extends forwardly from the rear of the bowl and over the cover 2, as shown in full lines in Fig.

1, to prevent the cover 2 being lifted. To release the locking means, the release member 28 is withdrawn to disengage the detent 22 from the notch 26, thereby allowing the handle 20 to be swung about its vertical axis through about 90" to its release position (shown in broken lines in Fig. 1), in which the handle 20 is to the rear of the cover, allowing the latter to be lifted. When the handle 20 is swung forwardly to its locking position, the detent 22 automatically re-engages in the notch 26 to lock the handle 20 in its locking position.

Claims

1. Locking means for a lavatory cover, comprising support means for attachment to the lavatory bowl or other fixed part of the lavatory, a locking member mounted on the support means about a substantially vertical axis and capable of occupying a locking position in which the locking member overlies the cover and thereby prevents lifting movement of the cover, or a release position in which the locking member is displaced to the rear of the cover and allows lifting movement of the cover to reveal the bowl, and a release member manually operable to cause or allow the locking member to change from its locking position to its release position.

2. Locking means according to claim 1, wherein in its locking position, the locking member extends forwardly over the cover from the rear of the bowl.

3. Locking means according to claim 2 wherein the support means is attachable to the bowl by means of the bolts or studs which secure the lavatory seat and cover to the bowl.

4. Locking means according to claim 3, wherein the support means is such that the locking means can be secured in position on the bowl without removal of the seat and cover.

5. Locking means according to claim 4, wherein the support means has slots which enable the support means to be slid into position when the bolts or studs are slackened.

6. Locking means according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the pivot axis is located centrally and symmetrically at the rear of the bowl.

7. Locking means according to any of the preceding claims, wherein detent means are provided to retain the locking member in its locking position, the release member being capable of releasing the detent means to free the locking member.

8. Locking means according to claim 7, wherein the detent means comprises a springloaded detent engageable in a notch in a spindle which rotatably mounts the locking member in a bore of the support means, the detent automatically re-entering the notch when the locking member is swung back from the release position to the locking position.

9. Locking means according to claim 8, wherein the notch is one of a plurality of notches disposed at spaced positions along the spindle, the detent being engageable with a selected one of the notches dependent on the required height of the locking member necessary to clear the cover.

10. Locking means constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.