WO1997029673A1

WO1997029673A1 - A toilet cover assembly with damper

Info

Publication number: WO1997029673A1
Application number: PCT/DK1997/000068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kjeld Bruno Pedersen
Original assignee: Pressalit A/S
Priority date: 1996-02-14
Filing date: 1997-02-14
Publication date: 1997-08-21

Abstract

A toilet cover assembly comprises a seat (1) being pivotally connected with a bracket (3) and a damper for damping the movement of the seat (1) from a raised to a lowered position. The damper comprises a housing (23) with a fluid compartment and a pivotal partition member (25) dividing the compartment into two chambers. The partition member (25) is adapted to be moved in two opposing directions from a neutral position to an end position. The compartment (39) is provided with two fluid passages (65, 66) interconnecting the two fluid chambers (67, 68) in any position of the partition member (25). A valve member (69) is provided in the passage (65, 66) substantially preventing fluid from flowing from one chamber to the other when the partition member (25) is moved towards an end position in said one fluid chamber (67), but allowing flow of fluid in the opposite direction at movement back towards the neutral position.

Description

Title: A toilet cover assembly with damper.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a toilet cover assembly comprising a seat pivotally con¬ nected to a bracket about a horizontal axis, said bracket provided with fastening parts for fastening the bracket to a toilet bowl and at least one damping means for damping the movement of the seat from a raised to a lowered position comprising a housing member accommodating a fluid compartment filled with a damping fluid and a partition wall member arranged movably in the housing and dividing the fluid compartment into two chambers interconnected by means of a leakage flow passage, and either the housing member or the partition wall member being fixedly connected to the bracket and the other member being operationally interconnected with the seat by means of a coupling so as to be moved relative to the other member at rotation of the seat.

Background Art

US-A-5.193.228 and US-A-5.255.396 both disclose a toilet cover assembly of the above type, in which the bracket is formed of two separate bracket halves, each provided with a damper. The damper of one of the bracket halves is adapted to dampen the movement of the seat, while the damper of the other bracket half is adapted to dampen the movement of the cover. Both dampers are formed so as to perform damping at rotation in one direction, while the damping is eliminated or considerably reduced at rotation in the opposite direction. As a result, the two bracket halves can be arranged only in one manner on the toilet bowl relative to the seat and the cover, the dampers thereof otherwise operating in the opposite direction that the intended, if the two bracket halves are interchanged.

Moreover, DE-C2-37 01 720 a toilet cover assembly of the above type, which, however, does not comprise means for removing the seat from the bracket formed of two separate bracket halves. Most toilet bowls are provided with two holes to be used when fastening the bracket of the toilet cover assembly thereto. However, the position of the holes varies considerably from a toilet bowl of one manufacturer to a toilet bowl of another manufacturer, for which reason it is desirable to arrange the fastening parts of the bracket offset laterally relative to the axis of rotation of the seat and/or the cover such that they have differing positions when the bracket is rotated 180°, whereby the bracket can be mounted on the greatest possible number of different types of toilet bowls with a correct position of the seat and cover relative to the bowl.

Brief Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a toilet cover assembly of the above type allowing the bracket to be mounted in two positions rotated 180° relative to each other about a vertical axis.

The toilet cover assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the partition wall member is adapted to be moved relative to the housing member in two opposing directions from a neutral position corresponding to the raised position of the seat to an end position corresponding to the lowered position of the seat, in which the volume of the first fluid chamber has been increased, while the volume of the second fluid chamber has been reduced, and in which fluid passages are provided which at least when the partition wall member is slightly distanced from its neutral position connect a first fluid chamber with a second fluid chamber in any position of the partition wall member, a valve further being provided in said fluid passages essentially preventing fluid from flowing from the first fluid chamber to the second chamber when the partition wall member is moved from its neutral position to an end position in said one fluid chamber in both said opposing direc- tions, but allowing flow in the opposite direction at movement back to the neutral position.

When the partition wall member is moved relative to the housing from its neutral position in direction towards one of end positions, the volume of the chamber is reduced, while the volume of the other chamber is increased. As the valve in the fluid passage connecting the two chambers prevent a flow of fluid between said chambers through the passage, fluid can only flow between the two chambers through leakageage flow passages, whereby the movement towards the respective end position is dampened. At movement away from the respective end position towards the neutral position, fluid flows through the fluid passage interconnecting the two chambers from the chamber whose volume now is reduced to the chamber whose volume now is increased, whereby essentially no damping of the movement of the partition wall member to the neutral position occurs. At a continuous rotation past the neutral position in the manner described above the valve in the fluid passage between the two chambers prevents fluid from flowing through said passage from the chamber whose volume now is reduced to the chamber whose volume now is increased, whereby fluid can only flow between the two chambers through the leakage flow passages such that the movement is dampened. At movement from the second end position towards the neutral position the valve in the passage between the two chamber once more allows fluid to flow through the passage, whereby the movement back to the neutral position takes place essentially without damping. Since the neutral position corresponds to the raised position of the seat, the move¬ ment of the seat from its raised position to its lowered position is dampened regard- less of in which direction the seat is turned, whereby it is possible to rotate the bracket 180° about a vertical axis and still obtain the intended damping of the seat from its raised to its lowered position.

According to the invention, in a toilet cover assembly further comprising a cover pivotally connected to the bracket about same axis as the seat, said bracket being provided with a damper for damping the rotation of the cover from a raised to a lowered position comprising a housing member having a fluid compartment filled with a damping fluid and a partition wall member movably arranged in the housing member and dividing the fluid compartment into two chambers interconnected by means of a leakage flow passage, and either the housing member or the partition wall member being fixedly connected to the bracket and the other member being operationally interconnectable with the cover by means of a coupling so as to be moved relative to the other member at rotation of the cover the partition wall member can be adapted to be moved relative to the housing member in two oppos¬ ing directions from a neutral position corresponding to the raised position of the cover to an end position corresponding to the lowered position of the cover, in which the volume of one of the fluid chambers has been increased, while the volume of the other fluid chamber has been reduced, and two fluid passages are provided which at least when the partition wall member has been moved slightly away from its neutral position interconnect the two fluid chambers in any position of the par¬ tition wall member, a valve further being provided in said fluid passages essentially preventing fluid from flowing from one of the fluid chambers to the other chamber when the partition wall member is moved from its neutral position towards an end position in said one fluid chamber in both said opposing directions, but allowing flow of fluid in the opposite direction at movement back to the neutral position.

As a result, in a completely analogous manner as described above, the movement of the cover is dampened in both directions relative to its raised position such that the intended damping is obtained at a 180° rotation of the bracket, when the cover is moved from its raised to its lowered position, and essentially no damping occurs when the cover is moved in the opposite direction.

According to the invention the two fluid passage can be formed as a common connecting passage and the valve for preventing fluid flowing therethrough is activated by means of the pressure in the fluid chamber whose volume is reduced when the partition wall member is moved in the direction away from its neutral position.

Thus, the valve prevents flow through the connecting passage when the partition wall member is moved from its neutral position towards one of the two end posi¬ tions, whereby said movement is dampened, but allows free flow through the connecting passage when the partition wall member is moved from one of the two end positions towards the neutral position, whereby essentially no damping of the movement occurs. Moreover, according to the invention the common connecting passage can be formed across the partition wall member.

Furthermore, according to the invention when the partition wall member is pivotally arranged relative to the housing member the valve can comprise a valve member arranged in an essentially axially extending control passage extending across the common connecting passage and the end of the control passage facing away from the common connecting passage co-act with portions of the housing member so as to provide a communication with the fluid chamber towards which the partition wall member is turned at rotation away from its neutral position.

When the partition wall member is turned from the neutral position towards one of the respective end positions, the valve member is on one side subjected to the pressure in the chamber whose volume now is reduced and on the other side subjected to the pressure in the common connecting passage. As the highest pressure exists in the chamber whose volume is reduced, the valve member is displaced to close the connecting passage, whereby the fluid is only able to flow from the chamber whose volume is reduced to the other chamber through the leakage flow passage, whereby the movement is dampened. When moving the partition wall member from one of the respective end positions towards the neutral position, the pressure in the common connecting passage exceeds the pressure in the chamber whose volume is increased, allowing a free flow of fluid through the connecting passage, whereby no essential damping occurs.

Moreover, according to the invention the partition wall member may comprise a tubular central part having a circular external cross-section and extending co-axially with the axis of rotation and a vane extending radially and axially therefrom, the common connecting passage extending across the tubular part and the control passage being formed of the interior of the tubular part.

Furthermore, according to the invention at the end co-acting with the housing the control passage may be provided with an aperture extending radially through the wall of the tubular part in the portion closest to the vane, where the vane may have an axially extending recess to receive a circular ring sector shaped projection on the end wall of housing, said projection adapted to cover the aperture to the interior of the control passage when the partition wall member is in its neutral position and adapted to open the fluid connection thereto when the partition wall member is rotated away from said position.

As a result, the intended opening between the chamber whose volume is reduced and the control passage is provided in a particularly simple manner when the partition wall member is in a rotated position relative to the neutral position.

Moreover, according to the invention the valve member in the control passage is maintained spaced apart from the end aperture by means of a spring means preload¬ ing it into the closing position across the common connecting passage, the valve member in the area exposed to the respective fluid chambers having surface portions dimensioned so that the fluid pressure acting thereon overcomes the preloading force of the spring means as a result of a reduction of the pressure in the fluid chamber communicating with the end of the valve member 69 facing the end wall of the housing member and thus allows flow through the connecting passage when the partition wall member is rotated back towards its neutral position.

Due to the spring-loading of valve member towards the closing position in which it closes the common connecting passage, said member is very quickly moved into the closing position, if the seat or the cover is released while being moved from the lowered to the raised position, whereby the downward movement of the seat and the cover is quickly dampened.

Finally, according to the invention the end of the tubular, central part of the partition wall member immediately adjacent the end wall of the housing member may be received in a circular recess in the said end wall.

Consequently, in a simple manner the partition wall member is pivotally arranged relative to the housing member.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a top view of toilet cover assembly according to the invention comprising a seat and a cover pivotally connected with a bracket about a common axis of rotation,

Fig. 2 illustrates the toilet cover assembly in Fig. 1 seen in the direction II in Fig.

1,

Fig. 3 illustrates the toilet cover assembly in Fig. 1 seen in the direction III in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 illustrates the toilet cover assembly in Fig 1, in which the seat and the cover are separated from each other and detached from the bracket,

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view along the line V-V in Fig. 1 in the raised position of the cover,

Fig. 6 is an axial sectional view along the line VI- VI in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line VII- VII in Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view as in Fig, 7, the cover, however, being turned slightly away from its raised position,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX in Fig. 5,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross-section IX-IX in Fig. 5 through a damper having a first modified partition wall member, and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross-section X-IX in Fig. 5 through a damper having a second modified partition wall member.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The shown toilet cover assembly comprises a seat 1 and a cover 2 hingedly intercon¬ nected and pivotally connected with a bracket 3 provided with a housing 23 having two legs 54,55 with bases 4,5 each provided with a pivotal disc 56 having an oblong hole 57 through which a bolt can be inserted for fastening the bracket 3 to a toilet bowl.

The seat 1 and the cover 2 are hingedly interconnected by means of two interspaced hinges, each comprising a hinge member 6 provided with a pin and a hinge member 7 provided with a bearing. The hinge pin members 6 each comprise a cylindrical body 8 having an axially projecting pin 9 and a leg 10 extending substantially tangentially from the body 8 and ending in a mounting base 11. The hinge bearing members 7 each comprise a bearing 12 provided with a cylindrical cavity 13 adapted to receive the pin 9 of the hinge pin member 6 and a leg 14 extending substantially tangentially from the bearing and ending in a mounting base 15. The hinge pin members are identical as are the hinge bearing members.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, a hinge bearing member 7 is mounted on the rear edge 16 of the seat at one end and a hinge pin member 6 is mounted at the other end co-axially thereto, the pin 9 facing outwards. The mounting base 15 of the hinge bearing member 7 and the mounting base 11 of the hinge pin member 6 are both countersunk in the rear edge 16 of the seat 1. Correspondingly, a hinge pin member

6 with the pin 9 facing outwards is mounted at one end in the rear edge 17 of the cover 2 and a hinge bearing member 7 is mounted at the other end co-axially therewith. The mounting base 11 of the hinge pin member 6 and the mounting base

15 of the hinge bearing member 7 are both countersunk in the rear edge 17 of the cover.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the hinge members 6,7 of the hinges are mounted such on the seat 1 and the cover 2 respectively that the pins of the hinge pin members 6 can be brought into and out of engagement with the cavities 13 of the hinge bearing members 7 by an axial displacement of the cover 2 relative to the seat 1. Furthermore, the hinge members are arranged such that when the pins 9 are in engagement with the bearings 12, a shoulder 18 between the body of the hinge pin members and the pin 9 essentially abuts an inwardly facing edge face 19 of the bearings 12. In said engagement position, the distance between the inwardly facing end faces 20 of the body 8 of the hinge pin members 6 corresponds substantially to the distance between the end faces 21, 22 of the housing 23 facing away from each other.

The shape of the housing 23 of the bracket 3 which is symmetrical about a central wall 24 is explained in detail below with reference to Figs. 5 and 9. A partition wall member 25 is pivotally arranged in the interior of the housing 23 and prevented from axial displacement due to the abutment between an inner end face 27 thereof and the central wall 24 and the abutment between a shoulder 28 thereof and an inwardly extending projection 29 of the housing. An axial recess 31 having a cross-section not presenting rotation symmetry is provided in the outer end face 30 of the partition wall member, said end face being substantially in the same plane as the end face 21 of the bracket housing 23. Between the shoulder 28 and the inner end face 27 the partition wall member 25 is provided with a radially annular projection 33 having an annular groove 34 accommodating a sealing ring 35 sealing¬ ly abutting the inner, cylindrical surface 36 of the bracket housing 23. A closed compartment 39 is thus formed between the radial projection 33 and the central wall 24 and filled with a highly viscous fluid so as to form a damper.

In the closed compartment 39 the partition wall member 25 is provided with a tubular part 58 having a cylindrical outer surface 59 and a radially and axially extending vane 38 extending radially essentially to the inner cylindrical surface 26 of the housing 23 and axially essentially to the central wall 24. A rib 37 extends radially inwardly from the inner cylindrical wall 26 of the housing 23 and substanti¬ ally to the outer face 59 of the tubular central part 58 of the partition wall member 25. A radial aperture 61 is provided in the cylindrical wall 60 of the inner end of

5 the tubular central, said aperture extending to the inner passage 62 of the tubular part. The radial aperture extends approximately over 180° in circumferential direction and extends to the inner end wall 27 in axial direction. The innermost end portion of the tubular part 58 is received in the interior of an annular projection 64 of the central wall 24 of the housing 23. Opposite the rib 37 the annular projection

10 64 is extended by means of a part-annular projection 63 extending approximately over 180° in circumferential direction and received in an axially extending recess 98 formed in the vane 38 of the tubular part 58 in the area at the aperture 61.

Spaced axially apart from the radial aperture 61 two opposite, substantially radial fluid passages 65,66 are provided in the tubular part 58 forming a connecting

15 passage between the two chambers 67,78 into which the fluid compartment 39 is divided by means of the partition wall member 25 and the housing 23. A valve member 69 is arranged in the inner passage 62 of the tubular member 58 being preloaded by means of a spring 70 to adopt a closing position so as to substantially close the connection between the two radial fluid passages 65, 66 and thus the

20 connection between the two fluid chambers 67, 68. A small opening 71,72 is, however, maintained between the radial fluid passages 65,66 and the axial, inner passage 62 in the closing position in that the end face 73 of the valve member 69 facing away from the central wall 24 of the housing abuts stop faces 74,75 of diametrically opposed ribs 76,77 extending inwards in the central passage 62.

25 The mode of operation of the damper is explained below. The vane 38 extends vertically in the neutral position of the partition wall member 35 corresponding to the raised position of the seat and the cover. Furthermore, the fluid connection between each of the two chambers 67,68 and the central passage 62 is closed, the part-annular projection 63 of the housing closing the radial aperture 61 in the

30 tubular, cylindrical part 58. Finally, the valve member 69 is in the closing position. When lowering the seat or the cover, the partition wall member 25 and thus also the vane 38 are rotated in the direction indicated in Fig. 8 by means of the arrow. As a result, the volume of the chamber 67 is reduced, while the volume of the second chamber 68 is increased. At the same time a connection is formed between the chamber 67 and the inner passage 62 of the partition wall member 25 through the radial aperture 61 in the tubular, central part 58 of the partition wall member 25. However, no connection exists between the second chamber 68 and the central passage 62. The same pressure as in the chamber 67 is thus present in the end of the central passage 62 immediately adjacent the central wall 24 of the housing. This pressure acts on the end 78 of the valve member 69 facing the central wall. In contrast hereto, the opposite end face 73 of the valve member 69 is subjected to a pressure between the pressures in the two chambers 67 and 68, the adjacent end of the central passage 62 communicating with both chambers through the small open¬ ings 71 and 72. In addition to the preloading from the spring 70, the differences in pressure at the two ends of the valve member thus attempt to bring the member into the closing position. Thus, during the rotary movement away from the neutral position there is no fluid connection between the two chamber except through the small openings between the individual parts, whereby the movement from the raised position of the seat or cover to the lowered position thereof is dampened. When moved in the opposite direction, i.e. from the lowered position to the raised posi¬ tion, the volume of the chamber 67 is increased, while the volume of the chamber 68 is reduced. As a result, the pressure in the chamber 68 exceeds the pressure in the chamber 67. The chamber 67 still communicates with the inner passage 62 through the aperture 61, whereby the pressure is the same in the passage 62 as in the chamber 67. At opposite end of the passage 62 communicating with both chambers 67 and 68 through small openings 71,72 the pressure exceeds the pressure in the chamber 67. The end face 78 of the valve member 69 facing the central wall 24 is thus subjected to a pressure which is lower than the pressure on the opposite end face 73. As the spring 70 selected such that the pressure difference overcomes the preloading thereof, the valve member 69 is displaced to a non-closing position providing free flow between the two chamber through the connecting passage formed of the two radial passages 65,66. Fluid may thus flow freely from the chamber 68 to the chamber 67, whereby essentially no damping of the movement of the seat or the cover occurs.

At movement in the opposite direction from the neutral position, damping also occurs due to the symmetrical shape of the parts forming the damper. Correspon- dingly, at movement in direction towards the neutral position no damping occurs.

With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the hinge pin members 6 adjacent the bracket 3 are provided with a hollow interior. In the interior of the hinge pin member 6 at the end thereof immediately adjacent the bracket 3 a substantially cup-shaped body 40 is arranged displaceably but prevented from rotating and provided with a protruding pin 41 having a cross-section not presenting rotation symmetry corresponding to the cross-section of the recess 31 of the partition wall member 25. By means of the compression spring 42 the body 40 is springloaded so as to adopt the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the protruding pin 41 engages the partition wall member 25. In the shown engagement position a stop face 43 of the cup-shaped body 40 abuts an inner stop face 44 of the body of the hinge pin member 6. The body 40 is prevented from rotating by an outer rib 45 on the cylindrical wall 46 of the body received in a corresponding groove 47 in the body of the hinge pin member 6. Against the force of the compression spring 42 the pin 41 of the body 40 can be moved from the engagement position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to a release position in which it no longer extends beyond the inwardly facing end face 20 of the hinge pin member 6, whereby the hinge pin members 6 and the hinge bearing members 7 connected therewith and thus the seat and the cover can be detached from the bracket 3.

For bringing the pin 41 out of said engagement position the hinge pin member 6 is provided with an activation mechanism comprising an activation body 48 displace¬ ably arranged in the interior of the hinge pin member 6 and an activation button 49 extending beyond the outer end face 50 of the pin 9 of the hinge pin member 6. At the other end, the activation body 48 is provided with a rack 51 meshing with a gear wheel 52 pivotally arranged in the interior of the hinge pin member 6. The gear wheel 52 further engages a second rack 53 connected with the cup-shaped body 40 provided with the pin 41. When pressing the activation button 49 the rack 51 rotates the gear wheel 52 which in turn displaces the second rack 53 in opposite direction of the rack 51 and thus moves the cup-shaped body 40 provided with the pin 41 towards the release position. The force of the compression spring causes the activation button 49 - when released - to revert to its initial position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the pin 42 is in the engagement position.

When the pin 41 of the body 40 engages the recess 31 in the partition wall member 25, the partition wall member 25 rotates at rotation of the hinge pin member 6 and the cover 2 connected therewith due to the non-pivotal connections between the pin 41 and the recess 31 and between the body 40 and the body of the hinge pin member 6. This rotation is performed with damping when lowering the cover 2 and without resistance when raising said cover. As the shape of the housing 23 of the bracket is symmetrical and the hinge pin member connected with the seat 1 is attached to the opposite end of the bracket as described above, the movement of the seat 1 from its raised position to its lowered position is also dampened, whereas there is substantially no resistance against a rotation in the opposite direction.

Fig. 10 illustrates a damping arrangement substantially corresponding to the pre¬ viously described damping arrangement, the partition wall member 79, however, differing from the partition wall member 25 in that the radial fluid passages 65, 66 in the central tubular part 58 thereof, the valve member 69 in the inner passage 62 and the spring 70 are omitted. Furthermore, the vane 38 has been modified. The vane 81 extending radially from the tubular part 80 ends spaced apart from the inner wall 36 of the housing 23. Moreover, the vane 81 is provided with a radially projecting passage 82 extending between the inner axial passage 83 of the tubular central part 80 and outer end of the vane. A valve member 84 with a U-shaped cross-section is arranged radially displaceable relative to the vane on the outer end portion of the vane 81 and extends axially in the entire length of the vane. The valve member 84 is provided with a cylindrical, outer suiface 85 with a radius correspon- ding to the radius of the inner cylindrical surface 36 of the housing 23. The U- shaped valve member 84 is displaceable between the closing position shown in Fig. 10, in which it closes a connecting passage 99 between the chambers 67 and 68, and a position in which said connecting passage between the two chambers 67 and 68 is open. When moving the partition wall member from the neutral position shown in Fig. 10 towards one of respective end positions, the pressure in the axial passage 83 is the same as in the chamber whose volume now is reduced, as described above at the partition wall member 25. As a result, the valve member 84 is forced into the closing position. When moving the partition wall member 79 away from one of the respective end positions towards the neutral position, the pressure in the central chamber 83 is equal to the pressure in the chamber whose volume now is increased, whereby the valve member 84 is forced into its non-closing position relative to the two chamber. The movement from the neutral position towards the respective end positions is thus dampened, whereas no substantial damping occurs at movement back to the neutral position.

In the modified embodiment of the partition wall member 89 shown in Fig. 11, similarly a vane 91 extends radially from the tubular part 90 of the partition wall member. The vane 91 is provided with a radially extending passage 92 closed at the outer end and communicating with the axial passage 93 at the inner end. A valve member 94 is arranged displaceably in the radial passage 92. Adjacent the closed end of the radial passage, the vane 91 is provided with a first transverse passage 96 connecting the fluid chamber 67 with the radial passage 92 and a second transverse passage 97 connecting the fluid chamber 68 with the radial passage 92. The two passages are aligned and jointly form a connecting passage between the two cham¬ bers 67 and 68. The valve member 94 is displaceable between a closing position (not shown) in which it closes the connection between the two chambers and the non-closing position in which the two chambers 67 and 68 communicate. The vane 91 has a cylindrical outer surface with a radius substantially corresponding to the radius of the cylindrical inner surface 36 of the housing 23. When moving the partition wall member 89 from the shown neutral position towards one of the respective end positions, the pressure in the axial passage 93 is equal to the pressure in the chamber whose volume now is reduced. The pressure at the end of the radial passage 92 communicating with the transverse passages 96,97 is less than the pressure in the axial passage, whereby the valve member 94 is displaced to the closing position. Consequently, the movement of the partition wall member 89 is dampened. When moving the partition wall member 89 from a rotated position towards the neutral position, the pressure in the axial passage 93 is equal to the pressure in the chamber whose volume now is increased. The pressure in the radial passage 92 now exceeds the pressure in the axial passage, the valve member 94 thus being displaced to the non-closing position. Accordingly, due to the free flow of fluid from the chamber whose volume is reduced to the chamber whose volume is increased, essentially no damping of the rotation of the partition wall member 89 occurs.

The invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviating from scope of the invention. The bracket can thus comprise two separate bracket members, each being mounted on the toilet bowl. As the shown and described bracket 3, the two separate bracket members can be arranged between the hinge members of the seat and the cover, but can also be arranged at the outside of said members. Finally, one of the bracket members can be arranged between the hinge members and the second bracket member is arranged at the outside thereof.

Claims

1. A toilet cover assembly comprising a seat (1) pivotally connected to a bracket (3) about a horizontal axis, said bracket provided with fastening parts (4,5,56) for fastening the bracket (3) to a toilet bowl and at least one damping means for damping the movement of the seat (1) from a raised to a lowered position comprising a housing member (23) accommodating a fluid compartment (39) filled with a damping fluid and a partition wall member (25) arranged movably in the housing and dividing the fluid compartment into two chambers (67,68) intercon¬ nected by means of a leakage flow passage, and either the housing member (23) or the partition wall member (25) being fixedly connected to the bracket (3) and the other member being operationally interconnected with the seat by means of a coupling (45) so as to be moved relative to the other member at rotation of the seat (1), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the partition wall member (25) is adapted to be moved relative to the housing member (23) in two opposing directions from a neutral position corresponding to the raised position of the seat (1) to an end position corresponding to the lowered position of the seat (1), and in which the volume of one of the fluid chambers has been increased, while the volume of the other fluid chamber has been reduced, and that two fluid passages (65, 66; 96, 97) are provided which at least when the partition wall member (25;79;89) has been moved slightly away from its neutral position interconnect the two fluid chambers in any position of the partition wall member (25;79;89), a valve (69;84;94) further being provided in said fluid passages essentially preventing fluid from flowing from the one of the fluid chambers to the other chamber when the partition wall member is moved from its neutral position to an end position in said one fluid chamber in both said opposing directions, but allowing flow of fluid in the opposite direction at movement back to the neutral position.

2. A toilet cover assembly according to claim 1 and comprising a cover (2) pivotally connected to the bracket (3) about same axis as the seat (1), said bracket being provided with a damper for damping the rotation of the cover (2) from a raised to a lowered position comprising a housing member (23) having a fluid compartment (39) filled with a damping fluid and a partition wall member (25;79; 89) movably arranged in the housing member (23) and dividing the fluid compart¬ ment (39) into two chambers (67,68) interconnected by means of a leakage flow passage, and either the housing member (23) or the partition wall member (25)

5 being fixedly connected to the bracket (3) and the other member is operationally interconnectable with the cover (2) by means of a coupling (41) so as to be moved relative to the other member at rotation of the cover (2) c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the partition wall member (25;79;89) is adapted to be moved relative to the housing member (23) in two opposing directions from a neutral position correspond- 0 ing to the raised position of the cover (2) to an end position corresponding to the lowered position of the cover, in which the volume of one of the fluid chambers has been increased, while the volume of the other fluid chamber has been reduced, and that two fluid passages (65,66;96,97) are provided which at least when the partition wall member (25;79;89) has been moved slightly away from its neutral position 5 interconnect the two fluid chambers in any position of the partition wall member, a valve (69;84;94) further being provided in said fluid passages (67,68; 96,97) essentially preventing fluid from flowing from the one of the fluid chambers to the other chamber when the partition wall member is moved from its neutral position towards an end position in said one fluid chamber in both said opposing directions, 0 but allowing flow of fluid in the opposite direction at movement back to the neutral position.

3. A toilet cover assembly according to claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r - i s e d in that the two fluid passages (67,68;96,97) are formed as a common connecting passage and the valve (69;84;94) for preventing fluid flowing there- 5 through is activated by means of the pressure in the fluid chamber whose volume is reduced when the partition wall member (25;79;89) is moved in the direction away from its neutral position.

4. A toilet cover assembly according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the common connecting passage is formed across the partition wall member (25;79;

30 89),

5. A toilet cover assembly according to claims 3 or 4, in which the partition wall member is pivotally arranged relative to the housing member, c h a r a c t e- r i s e d in that the valve comprises a valve member (69) arranged in control passage (62) extending across the common connecting passage (65,66) and that the end of the control passage facing away from the common connecting passage co-acts with portions (63) of the housing member (23) so as to provide a communication with the fluid chamber towards which the partition wall member (25) is turned at rotation away from its neutral position.

6. A toilet cover assembly according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the partition wall member (25) comprises a tubular, central part (58) having a circular external cross-section and extending co-axially with the axis of rotation, and a vane (38) extending radially and axially therefrom and that the common connect¬ ing passage (65,66) extends across the tubular part (58) and the control passage (62) is formed of the interior of the tubular part.

7. A toilet cover assembly according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that at the end co-acting with the housing the control passage (62) is provided with an aperture (61) extending radially through the wall (60) of the mbular part (58) in the portion closest to the vane (38), and that the vane (38) has an axially extending recess (98) to receive a circular ring sector shaped projection (63) on the end wall (24) of the housing (23), said projection (63) adapted to cover the aperture (61) to the interior of the control passage (62) when the partition wall member (25) is in its neutral position and adapted to open the fluid connection thereto when the partition wall member (25) is rotated away from said position.

8. A toilet cover assembly according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the valve member (69) in the control passage (62) is maintained spaced apart from the end aperture (61) by means of a spring means (70) preloading it into the closing position across the common connecting passage (65,66), the valve member (69) in the area exposed to the respective fluid chambers (67,68) having surface portions (73) dimensioned so that the fluid pressure acting thereon overcomes the preloading force of the spring means as a result of a reduction of the pressure in the fluid chamber communicating with the end of the valve member (69) facing the end wall of the housing member and thus allows flow through the connecting passage (65,66) when the partition wall member (25) is rotated back towards its neutral position.

9. A toilet cover assembly according to claims 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r - i s e d in that the end of the tubular, central part (58) of the partition wall member (25) immediately adjacent the end wall (24) of the housing member (23) is received in a circular recess in said end wall.