Boy's invention drops toilet seat automatically

That annoying habit that most men have of leaving the toilet seat up is no longer an issue for women in the Attwood household in Palmerston North.

Ben Attwood, 13, has invented a toilet seat that lowers by itself. No manipulation by the user is required.

The Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School pupil created the contraption after his mum constantly complained about the toilet seat.

At the time, he was looking for a project to do for the school science fair.

A long screw and a kitchen timer, which winds back and allows the seat to drop, form the basis of Ben's invention.

There were only a couple of attempts before he perfected the seat.

His invention caught the attention of the producers of a television programme to be launched next year, called Let's Get Inventin.

They want his invention to feature on the programme, which will be screened on TV2.

- NZPA