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Toilet seat apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, SeatToilet seat apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060218710, Toilet seat apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Japanese Patent Application 2005-093371, filed on Mar. 29, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a toilet seat apparatus, and more particularly to a toilet seat apparatus which is detachable from a toilet bowl. BACKGROUND [0003] Conventionally, a toilet seat apparatus practically used is provided with a washing mechanism for spouting warm water for washing, and a heating mechanism for heating a toilet seat. Such conventional toilet seat apparatus generally includes a base portion provided at a rear side of an upper surface of a toilet bowl, a main body portion supported by the base portion, a toilet seat for seating, and a toilet cover for opening and closing an upper surface of the toilet bowl. The toilet seat and the toilet cover are rotatably supported at the main body portion. The toilet seat apparatus further includes a washing nozzle, a warm water tank, a heater, and a keep-warm portion if need arises. Recently, a toilet seat apparatus with a movable main body portion has been introduced. The movable main body portion of this type is movable for making a space between a toilet bowl main body and the main body portion of the toilet seat apparatus so that the cleaning can be easily made. One of the known washing toilet seat apparatuses including a lifting mechanism is disclosed in JPH9-316976A. More particularly, the disclosed toilet seat apparatus includes the lifting mechanism for lifting the main body portion in an outside direction, a lateral direction, a rear direction, or an upper direction of the toilet bowl. By means of the lifting mechanism, the quite heavy main body portion can be moved without difficulty and yet in a safe manner. [0004] With the configuration of the toilet seat apparatus disclosed in JPH9-316976A, the main body portion cannot be readily detached considering any possible falling of the main body portion and for improvement of safety. However, the main body portion may necessarily be detached for checking inside thereof or for draining water from the tank in order to prevent freeze in a condition where the toilet seat apparatus is not used for a long period of time. Under such circumstances, entire washing toilet seat is detached by loosening a fixing bolt and a nut, by which the base portion is fixed to the toilet bowl main body. Because detachment and reattachment of the main body portion may necessarily be performed within a limited space located below a lower tank at a rear side of the toilet bowl, the detachment and reattachment of the main body portion may occasionally be difficult and may require careful attention. [0005] A need thus exists for a toilet seat apparatus, which can detach a movable main body portion together with a toilet seat and a toilet cover from a base portion without difficulty in a safe manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, a toilet seat apparatus includes a base portion adapted to be fixed on a toilet bowl, a main body portion detachably mounted on the base portion, a toilet seat rotatably supported by the main body portion, a guide groove formed at the base portion and extending in a backward and forward direction of the toilet bowl and having an opening portion at a front side thereof, and a pin provided at the main body portion, the pin being inserted into the guide groove for allowing the main body portion to slide relative to the base portion, rise from the base portion, and to detach from the base portion. [0007] According to an another aspect of the present invention, a method for assembling a toilet seat apparatus, the method includes the steps of arranging the main body portion at a front side of the upper surface of the toilet bowl, pushing the main body portion rearward of the base portion until the pin reaches the guide groove through the opening portion of the guide groove, pushing the main body portion rearward of the base portion so that the pin slides along the guide groove to finally reach a closing portion of the guide groove, and fixing the main body portion to the base portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing toilet seat apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention with some parts being disassembled. [0010] FIG. 2A is a view for explaining an operation of a main body portion of a toilet seat apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a condition where the main body portion is slid forward. [0011] FIG. 2B is a view for explaining the operation of the main body portion of the toilet seat apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention in a condition where the main body portion is swung and lifted. [0012] FIG. 3A is a plane sectional view illustrating a base portion of a toilet seat apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a condition where an opening portion is closed. [0013] FIG. 3B is a plane sectional view illustrating the base portion of the toilet seat apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention in a condition where the opening portion is opened. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow with reference to the attached drawings. A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. In practical use, separately illustrated members indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 1 are assembled. A washing toilet seat apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention includes a base portion 4, a main body portion 2, a toilet seat 6, and a toilet cover 7. [0015] The base portion 4 is symmetrically formed from a substantially rectangular member and is provided with two elongated holes 44. The elongated holes 44 are penetrating through the base portion 4 at both sides of a center portion thereof. By means of the elongated holes 44, a mounting position of the base portion 4 can be adjusted in a backward and forward direction of a toilet bowl 5. The elongated holes 44 of the base portion 4 and mounting holes of the toilet bowl 5 are fastened by means of fixing members such as a fixing bolt 45, a nut 46, a washer 47, and a packing 48, and the base portion 4 is thereby fixed to a rear side of an upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5. Two guide grooves 43 are arranged at both sides of the base portion 4, respectively, in the backward and forward direction of the toilet bowl 5. Each guide groove 43 includes a substantially U-shaped cross section with an opening. A part of the base portion 4 forms a first side surface and a bottom surface of the substantially U-shaped cross section of the guide groove 43, and a part of the upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5 forms a second side surface of the substantially U-shaped cross section of the guide groove 43. The guide groove 43 includes a closing portion 49 at a rear side thereof and includes an opening portion 3 at a front side thereof. The opening portion 3 includes a cross section identical to that of the guide groove 43. [0016] The main body portion 2 is mainly formed from a substantially box shaped casing 21. The casing 21 includes a washing mechanism 200 therein. The toilet seat 6 and the toilet cover 7 are rotatably supported at an upper surface of the casing 21. Further, the casing 21 is formed with a cutout portion 23 at a central lower portion. The cutout portion 23 includes a substantially rectangular cross section and is penetrating through the casing 21 in a backward and forward direction so that the casing 21 can pass through the base portion 4 when the casing 21 slides in the backward and forward direction of the toilet bowl 5. The cutout portion 23 is provided with a pair of pins 22 at inner side surfaces in a width direction thereof. The pins 22 protrude inwardly to face with each other. The pins 22 are insertable into an opening of the substantially U-shaped cross section of the guide groove 43 of the base portion 4. Further, each pin 22 includes a substantially elliptical cross section, a major axis of which is wider than a width of the guide groove 43. [0017] With the configuration of the washing toilet seat apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the main body portion 2 is attached to the base portion 4 in accordance with the following order. First, the main body portion 2 is arranged at a front side of the upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5 in such a manner that the cutout portion 23 is positioned in front of the base portion 4, and the pin 22 is positioned in front of the opening portion 3. Next, the main body portion 2 is pushed rearward of the base portion 4 until the pin 22 reaches the guide groove 43 through the opening portion 3. In a condition where the main body portion 2 is further pushed rearward, the pin 22 slides along the guide groove 43 to finally reach the closing portion 49. At this position, by fixing the main body portion 2 to the base portion 4 by means of an engaging mechanism (not shown), an attaching operation of the main body portion 2 is completed. During the attaching operation, the casing 21 and the toilet seat 6 are not necessarily be lifted or raised because they slide on the upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5. [0018] The main body portion 2 is detached from the base portion 4 in reverse order. More particularly, at first, the engaging mechanism is removed for making the main body portion 2 movable. Next, the main body portion 2 is pulled forward so that the pin 22 slides along the guide groove 43 to reach the opening portion 3. In a condition where the main body portion 2 is further pulled forward, the pin 22 passes through the opening portion 3 and is pulled out. Thereby, the main body portion 2 is pulled out at a center of the front side of the upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5. Accordingly, the attaching and detaching operations of the main body portion 2 can be performed without difficulty. Further, the attaching and detaching operations of the main body portion 2 can be performed in a safe manner because the main body portion 2 is not necessarily be lifted or raised during the operation. [0019] A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B. The same structure as described in the aforementioned embodiment is not repeatedly explained. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the pin 22 is provided at a rear end portion of the cutout portion 23. At the time of normal use, a main body portion 20 is fixed by means of the engaging mechanism at a rear side position indicated by a chain double-dashed line illustrated in FIG. 2A. At the time of cleaning, the engaging mechanism is removed, and then the main body portion 20 is pulled forward by sliding the pin 22 along the guide groove 43. On this occasion, the casing 21 and the toilet seat 6 are not necessarily be lifted or raised because they slide on the upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5 during the aforementioned operation. Accordingly, a rear end portion of the upper surface 51 of the toilet bowl 5 is opened and can thereby be cleaned. Continue reading about Toilet seat apparatus... Full patent description for Toilet seat apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toilet seat apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Toilet seat apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Female urination aid device Next Patent Application: Disposable toilet seat lifting strap Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Toilet seat apparatus patent info. 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