Glossary of Terms
BUMPERS – Can be located on the underside of the toilet seat and on the underside of the cover. Used to prevent seat shifting and to protect the cover and seat. Made of a blend of plastic.
CHECK HINGE – Mostly used in commercial/industrial and institutional applications, this type of hinge allows the seat to stand up at 11° beyond the vertical position, protecting the flush valve and/or toilet tank.
CONTOURED SEAT – A toilet seat that is usually plastic, form-fitted for better comfort.
COVER – The top part of a complete toilet seat.
EASY•CLEAN™ - A hinge system that lets you flip open hinge caps and slide the seat forward to remove for cleaning.
EASY•CLEAN & CHANGE® - A hinge system that lets you gently twist the hinge caps to the left and lift off the seat for easy cleaning.
ELONGATED CLOSED-FRONT SEAT WITH COVER – A seat with a cover and a closed front, made for an elongated bowl.
ELONGATED CLOSED-FRONT SEAT WITHOUT COVER – A seat without a cover made for an elongated bowl.
ELONGATED OPEN FRONT SEAT WITH COVER – A seat with a cover and an opening at the front, made for an elongated bowl.
ELONGATED OPEN-FRONT SEAT WITHOUT COVER – A seat with no cover and an opening at the front, made for an elongated bowl.
ELONGATED SEAT – A seat designed to fit an elongated bowl.
ENAMELED WOOD – Our enameled wood seats are made from 100% recycled wood sources, painted with environmentally friendly, water-based paints.
EXTENDED BACK SEAT/COVER – A seat and cover that, when installed, cover the entire top edge of the toilet, including the hinges.
FULL COVER – A cover that, when closed, extends flush to the outer edge of the seat.
HEATED SEATS – A round or elongated toilet seat with a low-voltage heating element inside. These premium seats must be plugged into a nearby GFCI outlet to operate.
HINGE POST – The part of the seat that attaches the seat to the bowl. The hinge allows the seat and cover to pivot from an open to a closed position.
LAYBACK – Describes the amount or degree to which the seat and cover extend beyond vertical when raised. Too little layback and the seat may not remain upright.
SOFT TOILET SEAT – A toilet seat with padding on the ring and another layer of padding on the cover. Ring and cover are then covered with vinyl. Provides cushioned comfort.
PINTLE – The part of the hinge that allows the seat to move from a horizontal to a vertical position. Most pintles are plastic, aluminum and/or stainless steel.
PLASTIC TOILET SEAT – Made by injection molding. Polypropylene is heated and injected into a mold, then cooled. Plastic toilet seats are smooth and non-porous. Extremely durable.
PRECISION SEAT FIT™ – Allows for aligning seat on bowl during installation for the perfect bowl fit.
PUSH n’CLEAN™ - Raise the seat upright, then push down to release and remove it for cleaning. To reattach, push the seat down until it clicks.
ROUND CLOSED-FRONT SEAT WITH COVER – A seat with a cover and a closed front, made for a round bowl.
ROUND OPEN-FRONT SEAT WITH COVER – A seat with a cover and an open front, made for a round bowl.
ROUND OPEN-FRONT SEAT WITHOUT COVER – A seat without a cover and an open front, made for a round bowl.
ROUND SEAT – A seat designed to fit on a round bowl.
SELF-SUSTAINING HINGE – A hinge designed to allow the seat to remain in any desired open or closed position.
SLOW-CLOSE – With just a tap, these seats lower slowly and quietly to the bowl. Found on our seats with Whisper•Close®. Also called “soft close.”
SQUARE-BACK SEAT – A seat and/or cover that is straight across the bottom.
STA-TITE® – A patented hardware system that provides for a toilet seat installation that Never Loosens™.
SUPER GRIP BUMPERS™ - Prevent seat shifting and provide greater stability.
WHISPER•CLOSE® - With just a tap, these seats lower slowly and quietly to the bowl. Also called “slow close” or “soft close.”
Congratulations on making it through to the end of the list! Head to The Reading Room for some fun articles about design inspiration, toilet seat materials, and even an interesting debate about which way to hang your toilet paper. And you thought we were all buttoned-up around here!
Decisions, Decisions: Choosing the Perfect Toilet Seat
How Often Should You Change Your Toilet Seat? Six Ways to Know