Title: Toilet seat cover
Abstract: A toilet seat cover includes top and bottom layers each having outer and inner edge portions. The top and bottom layers are preferably formed from a paper and nylon composite for providing a waterproof barrier. The toilet seat cover further includes a middle layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers and a plurality of adhesive strips for removably attaching the toilet seat cover onto a toilet seat are attached to the bottom layer. The middle layer is preferably formed from foam material and may include a deodorizing agent impregnated therein. The toilet seat cover is preferably made from soluble material so that it can be flushed down a toilet after use.
Patent Number: 6,996,859 Issued on 02/14/2006 to Alonso, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Alonso; Raul (2324 SW. 61st Ave., Miami, FL 33155);
Fink; Gloria M. (2324 SW. 61st Ave., Miami, FL 33155)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
446525 |
| Filed:
|
May 26, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
4/245.1; 428/304.4; 428/315.9; 428/311.71; 4/244.1 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
A47K 13/01.4 (20060101); A47K 13/02.4 (20060101); B32B 3/02.6 (20060101); B32B 3/00 (20060101); D21H 11/00 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
428/3044,315.9,311.71,316.6,317.1,317.3
4/243.1,244.1,245.1,245.4
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5820196 | Oct., 1998 | Rudys et al.
| |
| 5987656 | Nov., 1999 | Kakutani.
| |
| 6203810 | Mar., 2001 | Alemany et al.
| |
| 2004/0189042 | Sep., 2004 | Jarrard et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 09154929 | Jun., 1997 | JP.
| |
Primary Examiner: Morris; Terrel
Assistant Examiner: Salvatore; Lynda M.
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a toilet seat cover and, more particularly, to a toilet
seat cover including top and bottom layers formed from water proof material and
adhesive for removably attaching the toilet seat cover to a toilet seat.
PRIOR ART
Sanitation has always been a problem with regard to toilet seats, particularly
in public bathrooms. Wiping the seat prior to use may even be ineffective against
some disease-causing organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Several attempts have
been made to address this problem.
One relatively common means is the use of a circular cover which sits on the
top portion of the toilet seat, with no means of securement thereon. Thus, this
type of cover is prone to dislocation from its initial positioning. The frictional
resistance between a typical toilet seat and typical toilet paper is quite low.
Consequently, when typical toilet paper is placed on a toilet seat, it can readily
slide off of the seat. In this respect, it would be desirable if a toilet seat
cover provided a substantial frictional resistance against the toilet seat.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 1,125,847 discloses a toilet seat cover that is dispensed
on a roll like toilet paper. The toilet seat cover must be unfolded from the roll
in order to be used on the toilet seat. To avoid the inconvenience attendant with
unfolding the toilet paper, it would be desirable if a toilet seat cover were adapted
for covering a toilet seat without unfolding the toilet seat cover.
The toilet paper disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,125,847 is water absorbent. As
a result, liquids that are on the toilet seat, such as from a previous person,
can migrate up through the toilet seat cover and contact the person using the disposable
toilet seat cover. With this in mind, it would be desirable if a disposable toilet
seat cover prevents migration of liquids from the toilet seat to a person using
the disposable toilet seat cover.
Thus, it can be seen that a need exists for a toilet seat cover that avoids
the shortcomings of the known prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide a disposable and waterproof toilet seat cover that is removably
attachable to a toilet seat. These and other objects, features, and advantages
of the present invention are provided by a toilet seat cover including a top layer
having an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion disposed substantially uniformly
therefrom. The top layer further has an upper surface and a lower surface extending
between the inner and outer edge portions.
The toilet seat cover further includes a bottom layer having an outer edge portion
and an inner edge portion disposed substantially uniformly therefrom. Likewise,
the bottom layer further has an upper surface and a lower surface extending between
the inner and outer edge portions thereof. The toilet seat cover further includes
a middle layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers and disposed between
the inner and outer portions of the top and bottom layers. The toilet seat cover
further includes means for removably attaching the toilet seat cover onto a toilet
seat so that the toilet seat cover does not become detached therefrom while a user
is seated on the toilet seat cover.
The top layer is preferably formed from paper and nylon for preventing water
from passing therethrough. Likewise, the bottom layer is preferably formed from
paper and nylon for preventing water from passing therethrough. The middle layer
may include a plurality of air bubbles for allowing the middle layer to change
shape corresponding to a force applied thereon. For example, the middle layer is
preferably formed from foam for providing a cushion when a user sits on the toilet
seat cover. In addition, the middle layer may include a deodorizing element impregnated
therein and releasable into the atmosphere when a user sits on the toilet seat.
The means for removably attaching the toilet seat cover to a toilet seat preferably
includes an adhesive attached to the lower surface of the bottom layer. Such means
may include a plurality of adhesive patches or strips substantially equally spaced
apart and attached between the inner and outer edge portions of the bottom layer.
The plurality of adhesive patches each include a lower surface and each may further
include a member removably attached to the lower surface thereof for preventing
the plurality of adhesive patches from contacting a surface prior to being placed
onto a toilet seat.
Furthermore, a method for making toilet seat cover preferably includes
providing a top layer having an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion disposed
substantially uniformly therefrom wherein the top layer further has an upper surface
and a lower surface extending between the inner and outer edge portions. The method
further includes providing a bottom layer having an outer edge portion and an inner
edge portion disposed substantially uniformly therefrom wherein the bottom layer
further has an upper surface and a lower surface extending between the inner and
outer edge portions. The method further includes sandwiching a middle layer between
the top and bottom layers and disposed between the inner and outer portions of
the top and bottom layers. The method further includes providing an adhesive for
removably attaching the toilet seat cover onto a toilet seat so that the toilet
seat cover does not become detached therefrom while a user is seated the toilet
seat cover.
Claims
What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the:
United States is:
1. A hygiene-promoting apparatus comprising:
a toilet seat cover including
a top layer having an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion disposed substantially
uniformly therefrom, said top layer further having an upper surface and a lower
surface extending between the inner and outer edge portions;
a bottom layer having an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion disposed
substantially uniformly therefrom, said bottom layer further having an upper surface
and a lower surface extending between the inner and outer edge portions;
a middle layer sandwiched between said top and bottom layers and disposed between
the inner and outer portions of said top and bottom layers; and
means for removably attaching said toilet seat cover onto a toilet seat so that
said toilet seat cover does not become detached therefrom while a user is seated
said toilet seat cover;
said top and bottom layers being formed from water proof material for preventing
liquid from passing therethrough;
wherein said top and bottom layers are coextensively shaped and are suitably
sized and shaped for fitting on a toilet seat, each said top and bottom layers
having a substantially annular shape provided with a centrally registered opening
formed therein for allowing the user to freely deposit excrements into the toilet
while seated on the toilet seat:
wherein said top and bottom layers have coextensive thicknesses:
wherein said means for removable attaching said toilet seat cover to a toilet
seat comprises a plurality of adhesive patches substantially equally spaced apart
and attached between the inner and outer edge portions of said bottom layer;
wherein said plurality of adhesive patches each include a lower surface and each
further comprise a cover member removably attached to the lower surface thereof
for preventing said plurality of adhesive patches from contacting a surface prior
to being placed onto a toilet seat;
wherein each said adhesive patch includes a tab at one end thereof so that a
user can easily pull off the adhesive layer during times of urgency.
2. The apparatus claim 1, wherein said middle layer comprises a plurality of
air bubbles for allowing said middle layer to change shape corresponding to a force
applied thereon.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said middle layer is formed from foam material
for providing a cushion when a user sits on said toilet seat cover.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said middle layer comprises a deodorizing
element impregnated therein and releasable into the atmosphere when a user sits
on said toilet seat.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth
with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both
as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet seat cover attached to a toilet
seat, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the toilet seat cover of
FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the toilet seat cover and along
line 3—3 shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are
shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete,
and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The toilet seat cover of the present invention is referred to generally in FIG.
1 by reference numeral
10 and is intended to protect a user from contacting
urine, feces and bacteria while sitting on a toilet seat
11. It should be
understood that the toilet seat cover
10 may be attached to various shaped
toilet seats
11 and should not be limited to the particular toilet seat
11 illustrated in FIG. 1.
The toilet seat cover
10 includes top layer
14 having a generally
annular shape. Such a top layer
14 includes an outer edge portion
12
and inner edge portion
13. The inner edge portion
13 defines the
opening formed by the inner width of the toilet seat cover
10, which generally
corresponds to the opening of a conventional toilet seat
11.
Now referring to FIG. 2, the bottom layer
15 of the toilet seat cover
10 is shown as including outer edge portion
18 and inner edge portion
19, which are both substantially similar in shape and size to the outer
and inner edge portions
12,
13 of top layer
14. Both top and
bottom layers
14,
15 are substantially planar and are preferably
formed from waterproof material. Such waterproof material may be a composite material
including paper and nylon, as readily known in the industry. The nylon (not shown)
may be cut into individual strips and attached to the paper for providing water
resistant top and bottom layers
14,
15. Furthermore, the nylon strips
may be impregnated into the paper so that when a user sits on the toilet seat cover
10, bacteria or liquids predisposed on the toilet seat
11 cannot
pass through the top and bottom layers
14,
15.
The toilet seat cover
10 further includes a plurality of adhesive strips
or patches
16 spaced apart from each other and attached to the bottom layer
15. Such adhesive strips
16 are disposed between the inner and outer
edge portions
19,
18 of the bottom layer
15 and conform to
the general annular shape thereof. Such adhesive strips
16 may be formed
from a conventional adhesive, as readily known to a person of ordinary skill in
the art. Furthermore, each adhesive strip
16 includes a peel off layer
17
so that the adhesive may be exposed only when a user removes such layers
17
just prior to placing the toilet seat cover
10 on a toilet seat
11.
In particular, each peel off layer
17 includes a tab at one end thereof
so that a user can easily pull off the adhesive layer
17 during times of urgency.
Now referring to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the toilet seat cover
10
is shown as further including a middle layer
20 disposed between the top
and bottom layers
14,
15. In particular, middle layer
20 is
connected to a lower surface of top layer
14 and an upper surface of bottom
layer
15. Such a middle layer
20 extends along the general shape
of the toilet seat cover
10 and is disposed between the inner and outer
edge portions
12,
13 and
18,
19 of the top and bottom
layers
14,
15, respectively.
As can be seen in the FIG. 3, the outer edge portions
12,
18 of
the top and bottom layers
14,
15 are attached to one another, respectively.
Likewise, the inner edge portions
13,
19 of the top and bottom layers
14,
15 are connected to one another, respectively. Thus, the middle
layer
20 is securely maintained between the top and bottom layers
14,
15.
The adhesive strips or patches
16 can be seen as contacting the toilet
seat
11 for maintaining the toilet seat cover
10 thereon while a
user is seated on the toilet seat cover
10. Of course, after a user gets
off of the toilet seat cover
10, he/she may remove same from the toilet
seat
11 by simply peeling off the toilet seat cover
10 from the toilet
seat
11. Therefore, the adhesive strips
16 are not permanent adhesive
strips so that the toilet seat cover
10 may be removably attached to the
toilet seat
11. Advantageously, when the toilet seat cover
10 is
attached to the toilet seat
11 via adhesive strips
16, the toilet
seat cover
10 will not slip into the toilet bowl prior to or during use.
Furthermore, the middle layer
20 is preferably water soluble
and includes a plurality of randomly disposed air bubbles
21 therein for
allowing the middle layer
20 to compress and conform to the general shape
of a user seated on the toilet seat cover
10. For example, the middle layer
20 may be formed from conventional foam material, as readily known in the
art, or other suitable material. Such foam material may have a thickness generally
equal to the thickness of the top and bottom layers
14,
15. Of course,
the thickness of the middle layer
20 may be adjusted to meet the specific
needs for its intended use. Because the toilet seat cover
10 includes multiple
layers formed from waterproof material the user is protected from bacteria and
liquids resting on a toilet seat
11. The toilet seat cover
10 also
may be simply flushed down the toilet after use because the materials forming the
toilet seat cover
10 are preferably water-soluble and therefore able to
be decomposed by conventional sewage systems.
Such a middle layer
20 also may be impregnated with a deodorizing agent
or element, as readily known to person of ordinary skill in the art. The deodorizing
element may be released or activated when a user sits on the toilet seat cover
10 and compresses the air bubbles
21 located within the middle layer
20 to thereby cause the deodorizing scent to permeate through the top and
bottom layers
14,
15 and into the atmosphere.
Such a toilet seat cover
10 may be packaged in a vertically stacked arrangement
so that the outermost or topmost toilet seat cover
10 can be easily removed
from its corresponding package without disturbing or removing the remaining toilet
seat covers stacked therebeneath.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments,
it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
*
