US20130087083A1

US20130087083A1 - Toilet Shelf

Info

Publication number: US20130087083A1
Application number: US13/649,809
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Martinez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-11
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2013-04-11

Abstract

A toilet tank shelf is disclosed with a self leveling pad comprised of a granular weighted pouch. The pouch is attached to the bottom shelf surface. The granular pouch fills irregularities of an uneven surface of the tank lid. It provides a weighted level base of the shelf. The shelf can also be attached to the lid structure by one or more flexible elastic straps. The shelf can also comprise shelf edge components that cover the granular pouch and may extend above the shelf surface to form a lip. The shelf edge components can also serve to hold the shelf surface to the top of the tank.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit and priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/545,636 entitled Toilet Shelf and filed Oct. 11, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

1. Field of Use
The device subject of this disclosure is a removable shelf that can be attached to a toilet tank lid.
2. Prior Art
Shelf devices are known but require mounting to the wall or contain hinged covers.
SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE
Toilet tank lid or covers are inconvenient surfaces to store cosmetics or personal hygiene items. They are also inconvenient surfaces to place decorative items. One source of difficulty is that the tank lid may not be level. This can be a function of design, i.e., the top lid surface may gently slope from the center point toward a rounded edge. Therefore objects placed on the lid tend to roll off.
As bathroom fixtures take on enhance design function, the structure may be altered. Some toilet tank lids have surface protrusions or indentations.
This disclosure describes a removable cover that can be attached to a toilet tank lid. The cover does not have to be mounted to the wall or to the ceramic toilet structure. It comprises a shelf that is fitted over the tank lid with elastic straps. Additionally the shelf has an under layer or bottom pouch that is filled with weighted granular material. This granular filled pouch can support the shelf on an uneven tank lid. The shelf can optionally contain an edge that extends below the shelf edge. This edging can hide the granular pouch and provide a finished look to the installation. The edge may also serve as the attachment point for the elastic straps. The edge may also extend above the shelf surface to prevent object place on the shelf from rolling off.

SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. These drawings, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front cross sectional view of the tank, tank lid, the weighted granular pouch or pad, the horizontal shelf and the shelf edge extending below the weighted granular pad and extending above the horizontal shelf.

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the top of the horizontal shelf.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the bottom of the self adjusting pad (weighted granular pouch).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure outlines a novel apparatus for increasing storage space in a bath room. It also outlines a decorative space or a space on which decorative items may be displayed.
The apparatus subject of this disclosure can be used to cover over a cracked or chipped toilet tank lid. It will be appreciated it is expensive and time consuming to change a toilet. It also requires specialized knowledge, tools and skills
It will be appreciated toilet tank lids are often not level. They may have uneven top surfaces. They are however generally the same size or cover similar area. The apparatus of the disclosure can be dimensioned in length and width to fit securely on most toilet lids. It may be necessary to have two or more dimensioned tank lid shelves. For example a particular toilet lid may have a curved front thereby requiring a wider shelf.
It will be appreciated that the weighted granular pouch may be considered to be a self adjusting pad for the overlaying shelf. The granular particles readily fill low spots or irregularities in the toilet lid surface. It therefore provides a level surface for the shelf. The granular pouch is attached to the bottom surface of the shelf. In one embodiment, the shelf position may be further secured by the shelf edging extending below the shelf and proximate to the lid or tank edge. The shelf edge will not extend to impede the operation of the flush mechanism.
In another embodiment, the bottom surface of the shelf may have a strap that fits under the toilet tank lid. There may be a plurality of straps. The straps may be made of elastic material to hold the shelf snuggly against the lid. In one embodiment, the straps may be attached to the bottom shelf surface. In another embodiment the straps may be attached to the shelf edge component.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional front view of a toilet tank 10 and lid 11. Also illustrated is the underlying self adjusting pad or granular pouch 21. Overlaying the granular pouch is the shelf 20. Also illustrated is the shelf edge component. Note that in the embodiment illustrated, the shelf component includes a portion extending below the shelf and covering the granular pouch. The shelf edge component also has a upper component that forms a lip to the self edge. It will be appreciated that the shelf edge component need not extend around the entire circumference of the shelf.
FIG. 2 illustrates a side cross sectional view. Illustrated is the tank 10 and lid 11. Also illustrated is the granular pouch (self-adjusting pad) 21, shelf 20 and the shelf edge component 22. Not illustrated are the flexible elastic straps that may extend from the bottom of the shelf or from the shelf edge component.
FIG. 3 illustrates the shelf 20 with the top surface. Also illustrated is the shelf edge component 22. Illustrated is the top lip component of the shelf edge component.
FIG. 4 illustrate a bottom view of the shelf surface with the granular pouch (self-adjusting pad) 21 extending the length and width of shelf bottom surface 23 (covered by the self-adjusting pad). Also illustrated is the shelf edge component 21. Again not illustrated are the flexible elastic straps that fit under the tank lid.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A toilet tank shelf comprising:

(a) a horizontal shelf component having a plurality of side edges, a top surface and a bottom surface;

(b) a self leveling and weighted granular pouch attached to the bottom surface of the shelf component;

(c) a edge component vertically attached to the side edge; and

(d) an elastic strap component.

2. The shelf of claim 1 further comprising the edge component extending above the top surface.

3. The shelf of claim 1 further comprising two strap ends.

4. The shelf of claim 3 further comprising the strap end attached to the bottom surface.

5. The shelf of claim 3 further comprising the strap end attached to the edge component.

6. The shelf of claim 1 comprising a plurality of strap components.