Fuente: WIPO "rice" A mechanism for raising a toilet seat includes a foot pedal that operates or controls a slotted lifting lever located below a pneumatic cylinder assembly. Upward arcuate motion of the lever exerts a lifting force on the lower end of the cylinder portion of the cylinder assembly, such that the toilet seat is swung upwardly to a generally vertical position controlled by the seat hinge adjacent the top end of the cylinder. When foot pressure is removed from the pedal, the toilet seat returns to its lowered position. During this time, the pneumatic cylinder assembly acts as a shock absorber to prevent the seat from forcibly impacting against the toilet bowl as it reaches the lowered position. The foot pedal can be mechanically connected to the lifting lever. In an alternative arrangement, the foot pedal actuates an electric switch, that energizes an electric motor. The motor provides the motive power for moving the lifting lever.