Mechanism for opening and closing toilet seat and cover

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling pivotal movement of a pivotal member on a water closet includes a casing mounted on the water closet, a rotor rotatably mounted in the casing and viscous material interposed between the rotor and the casing providing relative rotational resistance between the rotor and the casing. A joint member coaxial with the rotor is provided and a spring clutch is operably disposed between the rotor and the joint member and operable to drive the rotor in one direction when the joint member is rotated in one direction while permitting the joint member to rotate in an opposite direction without driving the rotor member in such opposite direction. A shaft is connected to the pivotal member, the shaft being coaxial with the joint member. An interplay is interposed between the shaft and the joint member operable to permit the shaft to rotate a first angular amount in such one direction without driving the joint member and operable such that when the shaft continues to rotate further beyond such angular amount in such one direction, the shaft drives the joint member, whereby the pivot member attached to the shaft is freely rotatable in such one direction such first angular amount and thence further rotatable in such one direction to a closed position while being restrained by the viscous material, the pivot member being rotatable in such opposite direction from such closed position to an open position without being restrained by the viscous material.