At a glance
| Patent number | CN210370292U (application CN201920572885) |
| Type | China utility model (实用新型) - protects product shape and structure |
| Original title | Toilet cover plate hinge assembly (一种马桶盖板铰接组件) |
| Patent owner | Arrow Home Group Co., Ltd. (name change recorded 2020-06-02) |
| Inventors | Xie Yuerong, Liang Enjian |
| Filing date | 2019-04-24 |
| Grant date | 2020-04-21 |
| Status (China) | In force - no termination recorded; a China utility model lasts at most 10 years from filing (to 2029-04-24) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 4 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN210370292U) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - a toilet seat hinge with a support, a hinge shaft and a latch. The support has a post with a groove around it. The shaft has a mounting hole for the post and, at one end, an axial slot crossing the hole. The latch has at least two strips in the slot that fit the groove; each strip has a bump, an elastic catch and a positioning catch. A positioning notch in the shaft takes the positioning catch when the seat is fitted and the elastic catch when it is being removed.
Claim 2 - the notch is longer than the distance between the two catches. Claims 3-4 - the bump is thicker than the groove is tall and reaches further into the slot than the elastic catch. Claims 5-6 - a button at the latch’s outer end and an elastic member between button and shaft. Claim 7 onward - guide posts and grooves keeping the latch straight.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China. It is still in force in China, so making or selling this design in China would need the owner’s permission while it lasts (at most until 2029-04-24). It has no US or other foreign counterpart and does not restrict the design outside China.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Quick-release and slow-close toilet seat hinges are patented by several US and European seat brands, so a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review of the post, latch strips and button is needed before tooling.
- Slow-close pairing. Most buyers expect a soft-close damper in the same hinge; combining the latch with a damper is a design task proven on samples.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Materials | Zinc alloy, stainless steel or POM for the post, shaft and latch |
| Finish | Chrome, brushed nickel, matte black or white covers |
| Damper | Plain hinge or soft-close damper built into the shaft |
| Mounting | Top-fix or bottom-fix supports for standard US bolt spacing |
| Seat | Round or elongated, PP or thermoset (urea) seat and lid |
| Packaging | Hinge kits, complete seats, OEM supply to toilet makers |
Things to plan for (US market)
- ANSI Z124.5 - the US standard for plastic toilet seats, covering load, impact and hinge durability tests.
- Seat fit - US bowls use standard round and elongated shapes and bolt spacing; the support must fit them.
- California Prop 65 - plated metals and plastics are screened; warnings if needed.
- Cycle testing - quick-release latches are cycle-tested for repeated removal so the lock does not loosen.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - seat shape, materials, damper and quantity.
- Design - post and groove, shaft slot, latch strips, button and spring.
- Prototype - working hinges on a test bowl for fit and release feel.
- Pilot run - load, impact and cycle tests; finish and corrosion tests.
- Production - die-casting or molding, plating, damper and latch assembly.
Quantities & timeline
The support and shaft need die-casting or injection molds, the latch strips need precision molds or stamping, and plating or coating lines finish the visible parts. Release-cycle and corrosion testing take most of the development time. Send us your seat shape, materials, damper choice, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
