CA2244091A1 - Toilet seat cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet seat cover for increasing the comfort of a toilet seat, including offering the user insulation from the toilet seat, eliminating of the cold feeling the user often experiences when making contact to the toilet seat with one's buttocks. The toilet seat cover includes a ring shaped stretchable fabric which can be easily positioned over the toilet seat.
The stretchable nature of the material used within the toilet seat cover allows for easy and proper positioning of the cover over a broad range of toilet seat shapes and sizes. The integration of flexible tubing creates a simple anchoring of the seat cover to the underside of the toilet seat. The integration of either elastic band material or string can be used to secure the toilet seat cover once fully stretched over the entire toilet seat. The flexible materials used to construct the toilet seat cover permits the cover to be compactly folded for shipping and transport. The attachment method permits for convenient and quick removal and reattachment to the seat thereby permitting periodic washing of the cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to toilet seat covers which are used for covering the toilet seat while in use. This invention is useful in homes, hotels and for general use. This present invention is useful in offering insulation from the toilet seat, eliminating the cold feeling a user often experiences when making contact to the toilet seat with one's buttocks.
Toilet seat covers are well known and have been available in numerous shapes and sizes, and rely on various mechanical processes for both its construction and for attachment to the toilet seat. Known prior art include U.S. Patents #5,461,732: #5,537,693;
#5,392,469;
#4,875,242. The devices described and protected within the noted patents offer a seat covering for a toilet seat, however numerous inherent problems exit with each of the devices protected within the noted patents. The toilet seat cover as described and protected by U.S. Patent #5,461,732 relies on a plurality of straps as the means to affix the seat cover to the toilet seat.
The reliance on a multiple of straps could be considered cumbersome by many users. Further, the seat cover is a predetermined size, which has limitations as to the number of different sizes and shapes of toilet seats it can properly fit. U.S. Patent #5,537,693 describes a toilet seat cover made our of a plastic material, which offers the user no insulation from the toilet seat.
Also, such a material could not withstand repeated washing such as by way of a common household clothes washing machine. Further, the cover is affixed by relying on five flaps which use pressure adhesive discs as the means to connect with the seat cover. Such adhesive discs have limitations in terms of the number of times it can be adhered and re-adhered, thereby limiting drastically the life expectancy of the product. U.S. Patent #x,392,469 describes a toilet seat cover made of plastic material, thereby limiting the expected life of the product. Further, the material would not withstand the washing by way of a common household washing machine. The product is one that is for a single use, or a low number of repeat uses. U.S.
Patent # 4,875,242 describes a well known toilet seat cover utilizing paper as its primary material. The paper is a composite paper sheet, intended to disintegrated when immersed in water. The shape of the toilet seat cover is to be oversized relative to the toilet seat thereby hanging over and below the lowest point of the toilet seat. The product is intended to be discarded after a single use. Further, the paper material could not withstand being wiped or washed with liquid, making it impossible for the user to clean the toilet seat cover. Double sided adhesive tape is used as the means by which to anchor or affix the toilet seat cover to the toilet seat, which like the paper material is not sufficiently robust to withstand repeated use.
While the referenced toilet seat covers do offer the user a way to attach a cover to a toilet seat, the various problems as described in the prior paragraph create limitations as to the usefulness of such seat covers for the user. There is a need for a toilet seat cover that solves the many existing problems inherent with the known toilet seat covers stated above: that known toilet seat covers offer little or no insulation with regards to the toilet seat itself; that existing known toilet seat covers cannot be used repeatedly over a period of months or longer, but rather just for a single time or a low number of times; that some of the existing toilet seat covers cannot be easily wiped and cleaned by use of liquids and detergents, and are insufficiently robust to withstand cleaning by way of a common household washing machine;
that some of the existing toilet seat covers cannot accommodate to fit the various shapes and sizes of toilet seats in existence, and therefore are not able to cover the entire upper surface of the toilet seat; that some of the toilet seat covers cannot be easily and quickly attached and reattached by way of a single securing mechanism.
The present invention serves to address all of the problems stated in the previous paragraph and does so by relying on a design different than all of the stated products known and protected by U.S. patents.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a toilet seat cover intended to both cover and insulate the seat of a toilet. The invention is comprised of a stretchable cloth material, a length of plastic tubing which acts as the anchoring mechanism for the invention to the underside of the toilet seat, and a length of elastic or stretchable string which has a catch on either end and is used to easily and quickly secure the invention onto the toilet seat lid.

The primary objectives of the invention are numerous. An objective of the present invention is to offer the user insulation of the toilet seat from the buttocks of the user, thereby eliminating the cold feeling often experienced when the user makes direct contact with the toilet seat.
Another objective of the present invention is that it can be used repeatedly over a period of months or longer.
Another objective of the present invention is that it can be easily wiped and cleaned by use of liquids and detergents, and is sufficiently robust to withstand cleaning by way of a common household washing machine.
Another objective of the present invention is to be able to accommodate the various shapes and sizes of toilet seats in existence, and therefore is able to cover the entire upper surface of the toilet seat.
Another objective of the present invention is to allow for easy and quick attachment and reattachment to the toilet seat by way of a single securing mechanism.
The advantages of the present invention are numerous. One advantage of the present invention is with regards to the stretchable cloth material used. The material is able to stretch in virtually every direction and is able to fit a wide range of different sizes and different shapes of toilet seats.
Another advantage of the present invention is with regards to the use of elastic string and catches located on either end of the elastic string which, when included into the present invention in the intended fashion creates a quick and easy single securing mechanism.
Specifically, the elastic string is positioned on the edge of the invention which, when attached to the toilet seat, will encircle the outer region of the toilet seat. When the elastic string is pulled tight from both ends, the string is then able to reach around and behind the seat hinges, and then be connected together by way of the catches located on either end of the elastic string. The use of an elastic string as the attachment mechanism also serves to bring the stretchable material close to the toilet seat ensuring the present invention covers the entire top surface of the toilet seat, and doing so in an aesthetically pleasing and quick manner.
Another advantage of the present invention is with regards to the durable and long lasting material used as the seat cover. The material is robust and can be used repeatedly and over a period of months. The material can be easily cleaned with liquids such as water and household cleaners and detergents similar to that used when washing clothes.
Further, the material can easily withstand repeated cleaning by way of a standard clothes washing machine.
Another advantage of the present invention is with regards to the anchoring process and mechanism the present invention uses to secure itself to the underside of the toilet seat.
The present invention utilizes flexible plastic tubing which is connected to form a continuous and circular shape. The plastic is positioned into the entire circumference of one of the two openings of the present invention, and serves to make contact with the underside of the toilet seat. The circumference of the continuous piece of plastic tubing is greater than the circumference of the center hole located in the toilet seat. This feature allows for the simple and quick anchoring of the present invention without the need for adhesive pads, a series of velcro straps or the use of double sided tape.
Another advantage of the present invention is with regards to how compact the seat cover can become when the anchoring plastic is either removed from within the material or left within the material but then twisted into a more compact circumference. The utilization of stretchable cloth, flexible elastic string, and flexible plastic tubing enables the present invention to be packaged in a number of small, convenient and inexpensive ways including but not limited to a small carton or box, a plastic sleeve, or with packaging which is attached to but does not completely cover the present invention.
The stated objectives, features and advantages of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The present invention will be better explained and additional objectives other than those stated above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed drawings and descriptions.
FIG. 1 is a side view of the toilet seat cover.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the toilet seat cover illustrating the positioning of the elastic string, the plastic tubing used for anchoring the seat cover to the underside of the toilet seat, and the method of connecting the plastic tubing thereby making the tubing a circular and continuous shape.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of the toilet seat cover taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG 1. Detailed is the means by which both the elastic string and the plastic tubing are positioned relative to each other and to the toilet seat cloth material; the means by which both the elastic string and plastic tubing are kept in place relative to each other and relative to the toilet seat cloth material is also illustrated.
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the toilet seat cover being positioned and retained in place relative to the underside of the toilet seat.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a toilet seat and lid with the toilet seat cover having been anchored to the bottom of the toilet seat and having been pulled through the main opening of the toilet seat.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a toilet seat lid with the toilet seat cover having been properly anchored to the front portion of the toilet seat by way of the outer edge of the toilet seat cover being wrapped around and under the outer rim of the toilet seat.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a toilet seat lid with the toilet seat cover having been properly and completely anchored, secured and positioned.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1, the toilet seat cover is indicated by numeral 1. The toilet seat cover utilizes stretchable flannel or "terry" cloth cotton material. The stretchable material is manufactured such that no seam is found to exist along the main body of seat cover 2. The bordering and open ends of the toilet seat cover each have a tube created and extend the entire circumference of the respective open ends. The tubes, noted by numerals 3 and 5, are created by folding the outer edge of the stretchable material back onto itself and then securing the material in place by sewing the outer edge to the main body 2.
The sewing seam resulting from this procedure is indicated by numeral 4. Both of the tubes can be accessed by small slits or openings which run perpendicular to the tubes. Two slits exist for the upper tube 3, and are noted by numeral 6. One slit exists for tube 5, and is noted by numeral 7. Access to the lower tube by way of slit 7 allows for the easy and quick installation and removal of the anchoring mechanism, specifically a length of hollow and flexible tubing connected into a continuous and circular shape by means of a connector piece also made of plastic.
Referring to FIG. 2, the anchoring mechanism comprising of elastic string 8 and two catches 9 are shown. This anchoring mechanism is used to fit the toilet seat cover snugly around the outer rim of the toilet seat and is completed as the last step in the process of positioning the toilet seat cover onto the toilet seat. The removal of a portion of the stretchable material along a portion of the circumference of the upper tube 3 is shown.
Such removal of material results in a unique shape of the edge of the upper tube, indicated by numeral 10. This indentation 10 enables the toilet seat cover to neatly and snugly fit around the areas where the hinges are attached and protrude from the toilet seat. The anchoring mechanism relied upon to make contact with the underside of the toilet seat is shown and indicated by numeral 11. The anchoring mechanism 11 is a hollow length of plastic and flexible tubing which is connected to create a continuous and circular shape by way of a connector piece 12. The tubing 11 and connector piece 12 are kept in place by the tube created by folding the stretchable cloth material and sewing of the stretchable material back onto itself. The continuous seam 4 created from the sewing limits the movement of the plastic anchoring tubing and connector piece.
Referring to FIG. 3 the relative position of the upper tube 3, the lower tube 5, the elastic string 8, and the plastic and flexible tubing 11 are shown. Further, the seam created from the folding of the stretchable material and subsequent sewing as described prior is shown and identified by numeral 4. The main body of the stretchable material is shown in a non-tension state as is identified by numeral 2.
FIG. 4 shows the bottom view of the toilet seat identified by numeral 13, with the toilet seat cover 1 being properly positioned relative to the main opening of the toilet seat. The bottom tube 5 has made contact with the toilet seat, with the main body stretchable material 2 along with the upper tube having been pulled upward and through the toilet seat opening. The toilet seat cover is properly anchored and now ready to be secured along the upper and outer edge of the toilet seat. The toilet seat hinges are identified by numeral 16.
FIG. 5 shows the upper side of the toilet seat 13 along and attached to a toilet lid 14.
The seat cover 1 has been properly anchored by the lower tube and has had the main body stretchable material 2 pulled upward and through the toilet seat main opening.
Referring to FIG. 6 the toilet seat cover 2 has been partially anchored to the front portions of the toilet seat. The toilet seat cover has been stretched over the entire width of the toilet seat and then pulled under the outer rim of the toilet seat as identified as numeral 15.
The upper tube 3 has been positioned back under the outer rim 15. The toilet seat cover is stretchable and able to contour to the unique shape of the toilet seat. The toilet seat is now positioned and ready to be stretched to cover the entire top surface of the toilet seat.
FIG 7. shows the upper side of toilet seat cover having been stretched to properly, snugly, and completely cover the top surface of the toilet seat. The toilet seat cover is secured by way of the two ends of the elastic string being stretched behind the toilet seat hinges 16 with tension remaining on the elastic string by the connecting of the two catches 9.
While the invention described has been done so with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

I. A toilet seat cover comprised of multiple use, washable, fabric material constructed into a tube like shape with two openings, the fabric ends being folded back onto itself and sewn creating a tube which exists the entire circumference of the openings, a hollow and flexible tubing made of plastic which is connected into a continuous and circular shape by means of a connector piece, which when inserted into one of the two tubes becomes the anchoring system for the toilet seat cover to the underside of the toilet seat, a length of elastic string with a catch secured on either end of the elastic string, which when the length of string is inserted into the one remaining tube and done so whereby the catches are positioned outside of the tube becomes the securing mechanism for the toilet seat cover to the upper side of the toilet seat.

II. The cover of claim I, wherein the upper tube which is to hold the elastic string and catches includes a shape created by the removal of a portion of the stretchable material along a portion of the circumference of the upper tube.

III. The cover of claim I, wherein the fabric material is a cotton or cotton and polyester mix, or any other synthetic or natural fibre material which, has elastic or stretchable qualities such as terry-cloth or cotton flannel material, IV. The cover of claim III, wherein the fabric material is a soft and durable material able to withstand the repeated washing and cleaning by a common household washing machine.

V. The cover of claim I, wherein the fabric material has a circumference at both openings of in between 33 inches and 42 inches.

VI. The cover of claim I, wherein the upper tube created at one opening of the material extends the entire circumference of the opening, and is created by the material being folded back onto itself and then sewn, the seam created by the sewing acts as the limiting or defining factor in the width of the tube, measured when the material is laid and press flat to be a width of 0.25 inch to 1.00 inch.

VII. The upper tube of claim VI, wherein two slits or openings perpendicular to and extending the entire width of the tube exists to allow for the insertion and removal of any apparatus intended to be positioned within the tube.

VIII. The cover of claim I, wherein the lower tube created at the other opening of the material extends the entire circumference of the opening, and is created by the material being folded back onto itself and then sewn, the seam created by the sewing acts as the limiting or defining factor in the width of the tube, measured when the material is laid and pressed flat to be width of .25 to 1.00 inch.

IX. The lower tube of claim VIII, wherein a slit or opening perpendicular to and extending the entire width of the tube exists to allow for the insertion and removal of any apparatus intended to be positioned within the tube.

X. The cover of claim I, wherein the elastic string is a string or weave of material that provides for the string to withstand being stretched to a longer length than it otherwise has when measured during a non-stretched state.

XI. The elastic string of claim X, wherein the elastic string is used as the securing mechanism when attaching the toilet seat cover to the upper side of the toilet seat.

XII. The elastic string of claim XI, wherein the elastic string has a catch at either end of the string which serves to connect the elastic string into a continuous length assisting in the securing of the toilet seat cover to the toilet seat.

XIII. The catches of claim XII, wherein the catches can be two hooks, or a hook and a closed loop, or two attracting magnets, or any other means by which when connected will remain connected, unless otherwise disconnected by the user.

XIV. The seat cover of claim I, wherein the securing mechanism employed to secure the toilet seat cover to the underside of the toilet seat to be comprised of clear or colored hollow or solid plastic tubing, flexible enough to take the shape of a circle and able to maintain this circular shape by way of being attached to itself by a plastic connector means.

XV. The securing mechanism of claim XIV, wherein the length of the plastic tubing is approximately 36 inches long with an outside diameter of .125 inch to .500 inch.

XVI. The securing mechanism of claim XV, wherein the plastic tubing is held in a continuous and circular shape by way of a connector tube which is hollow at both ends and is such that the inside diameter of the connector ends allow for a snug fit of the ends of the securing mechanism.

XVII. The connector mechanism of claim XVI, wherein the connector piece is between 75 inch and 1.25 inch in length.