US 12,390,061 B2
Flexible toilet seat
Jeffrey T. Laundre, Sheboygan, WI (US)
Assigned to Kohler Co., Kohler, WI (US)
Filed by Kohler Co., Kohler, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/116,062.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/319,534, filed on Mar. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0284844 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. A47K 13/24 (2006.01)
CPC A47K 13/24 (2013.01) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toilet seat comprising:
a top surface;
a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
an inner edge where the top surface and the bottom surface meet;
an outer surface connecting an outer perimeter of the top surface and an outer perimeter of the bottom surface; and
a cavity extending from the outer surface toward the inner edge; and
wherein the top surface and the cushion are configured to deform elastically and vertically in response to a load applied to the top surface,
wherein a shape of the cavity is defined by a cavity interior surface including an inner cavity top surface and an inner cavity bottom surface opposite the inner cavity top surface, and
wherein the cushion includes an outer wall extending between the inner cavity top surface and the inner cavity bottom surface,
the toilet seat further comprising:
at least one slot disposed in an interior surface of the cavity and extending into the seat; and
at least one flange extending radially inward from the outer wall and disposed within the at least one slot.
 
7. A toilet comprising:
a bowl;
a toilet seat coupled to the bowl, the toilet seat comprised of a first material, the seat comprising:
a top surface;
a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
an inner edge where the top surface and the bottom surface meet;
an outer surface connecting an outer perimeter of the top surface and an outer perimeter of the bottom surface;
a cavity extending from the outer surface toward the inner edge; and
a cushion comprised of a second material different than the first material, the cushion removably coupled to the seat so as to be disposed within the cavity when coupled to the seat.
 
16. A toilet seat assembly comprising:
a seat including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, an inner edge where the top surface and the bottom surface meet, an outer surface connecting an outer perimeter of the top surface and an outer perimeter of the bottom surface, and a cavity extending from the outer surface toward the inner edge; and
a cushion disposed within the cavity,
wherein the seat and the cushion are configured to deform elastically in response to a load applied to the top surface,
wherein a shape of the cavity is defined by a cavity interior surface including an inner cavity top surface and an inner cavity bottom surface opposite the inner cavity top surface,
wherein the cushion includes an outer wall extending between the inner cavity top surface and the inner cavity bottom surface, and
wherein the cushion extends below the inner cavity bottom surface.