04/839335

08/31/1971

07/07/1969

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4/234

D23/311

A47K13/06; A47K13/00; A47K13/00; A47K13/08

4/234,235,236,237,238,239,141

2544792	Child's toilet seat	March 1951	Jack
2645784	Lavatory seat	July 1953	Blackburn
2682914	Child's toilet seat	July 1954	Wing
2720658	Child's toilet seat and cover	October 1955	Lea
2730726	Sanitary appliance for children's use	January 1956	Babbage
2820969	Child's toilet seat	January 1958	Wedge
2888686	Child's toilet seat	June 1959	Schrader
3205510	Toilet seat cover	September 1965	Levine

Artis, Henry K.

I claim

1. A combination toilet seat and cover comprising:

2. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 1 wherein said strap means are retractable, said strap means comprising:

3. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 1 including, in addition, spacing means for spacing said auxiliary cover from said base member when said auxiliary cover is closed.

4. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 1 wherein said splash guard is carried on a recessed surface in said depressed section, said recessed surface substantially conforming to the shape and size of said splash guard when flattened, a portion of said depressed section being in spaced, overlapping relation with a portion of said recessed surface to form a slit therebetween for slidably receiving a flattened portion of said splash guard to retain said splash guard on said base member, the remainder of said splash guard being automatically expandable when said auxiliary cover is moved away from its normally closed position.

5. A combination toilet seat and cover comprising:

6. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 5 wherein said splash guard is carried on a recessed surface in said depressed section, said recessed surface substantially conforming to the shape and size of said splash guard when flattened, a portion of said depressed section being in spaced, overlapping relation with a portion of said recessed surface to form a slit therebetween for slidably receiving a flattened portion of said splash guard to retain said splash guard on said base member, the remainder of said splash guard being expandable when said auxiliary cover is raised.

7. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 5 wherein said brace extends partially into said guide recess when in its normal rest position.

8. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 5 wherein said depth of said guide recess is greater than said depth of said recess in said auxiliary cover.

9. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary cover is releasably attached to said base member.

10. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 1 wherein a brace is pivotally attached to said auxiliary cover, at one end thereof, said brace being normally carried within a recess in said auxiliary cover so that the top surface of said brace is substantially planar with said top surface of said auxiliary cover; and

11. The combination toilet seat and cover of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary cover is releasably attached to said depressed section of said base member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toilet seat covers and, more specifically, to toilet seat covers suitable for use by children as toilet seats.

Heretofore, various attempts have been made to provide a toilet seat cover which can, in addition to its normal function, be used by children as a toilet seat. Examples of this type of toilet seat cover are described in the following U.S. Pats.: U.S. Pat. No. 2,720,658, entitled "CHILD'S TOILET SEAT AND COVER" issued to C. W. Lea; U.S. Pat. No. 2,544,792, entitled "CHILD'S TOILET SEAT," issued to P. E. Jack; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,160, entitled "TOILET SEAT COVER" issued to M. Joyce. To the inventor's knowledge, none of the combination toilet seat covers has proved to be commercially successful.

This lack of commercial success is apparently due to any of a number of disadvantages of these toilet seat covers. One of the disadvantages of the prior art toilet seat covers has been that they have been formed from a multiplicity of components which makes these toilet seat covers relatively costly and increases the difficulty of manufacture. Another disadvantage is that they have not provided adequate splash guards which are both effective and safe to use. A further disadvantage is that some of the previous toilet seat covers have employed a plurality of metal components in combination with plastic components and this has tended to make these toilet seat covers more difficult to manufacture and less durable. Decreased durability can result in injury to a child if, for example, a backrest collapses or sharp corners are exposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The combination toilet seat and cover of this invention is suitable both as a cover for an adult toilet seat and as a children's toilet seat. In general, this invention has dimensions which are similar to a standard toilet seat, but it has a forwardly positioned depressed section which has a hole therein which is suitable for use by children. Additionally, an auxiliary cover is rotatably mounted at a position behind the aforesaid children's hole and is shaped to conform to the depressed forward section so that, when rotated into its closed position with respect to the children's hole, the cover of this invention is provided with a flat upper surface. A rectangular brace is carried within a recess in the rear portion of the auxiliary cover with its forward end (upper end when the auxiliary cover is raised) pivotally connected to the auxiliary cover so that it can be rotated about this pivot point out of the recess within which it normally rests. A guide recess is provided in the rear, stationary portion of the cover and is aligned with the brace and its recess so that when the auxiliary cover is raised, the free end of the brace moves along and within the guide recess until it reaches the end thereof at which point, the auxiliary cover is supported in raised position suitable as a backrest.

A deformable, resilient splash guard is removably inserted into a slot forwardly of the children's hole so that when the auxiliary cover is in its normally closed position, the splash guard is flattened and when the auxiliary cover is in raised position, the splash guard is in a raised functioning position. Straps are provided to hold a child in position on the cover. The straps are preferably retractable and are attached to extensible means which are carried within the rear stationary portion of the cover. The extensible means cooperate with the straps to partially retract the latter when not in use, but permit extension of the straps when a child is to be secured on the cover of this invention.

The combination toilet seat and cover of this invention can be conventionally hingedly attached to a standard toilet seat. When a toilet with this invention is used by an adult, this invention is raised in the same manner as a conventional toilet seat cover. Because of its simplified construction, it functions as a cohesive unit when used by adults but is readily adapted for children's use.

One of the advantages of the toilet seat and cover of this invention is that its components act together to permit the auxiliary cover to be lowered into its normal resting position to provide a seat cover which is substantially flat and which, in spite of its multiple components and functions, is aesthetically pleasing. A further advantage is that the herein-described combination seat and cover is easy to clean and therefore hygienic. Cleaning of the herein-described invention is facilitated by the fact that its brace can be rotated out of its normal rest position to substantially completely expose the recess within which it rests and by the fact that the splash guard is removable thereby facilitating its own cleaning and the cleaning of the depression within which it normally rests. The retractable straps also contribute to the cleanliness of this combination toilet seat and cover since the straps are retracted into the rear portion of this invention and away from the children's opening when not in use.

The combination toilet seat and cover of this invention also has a number of safety features which make it particularly attractive for children. Included among these safety features is the sturdy and effective brace for the auxiliary cover which is braced independently of any fixture external to the toilet seat and cover of this invention. The straps also serve to hold a child in position on the toilet seat and cover of this invention and yet they are retractable as previously described to aid in the sanitation of this invention and to permit the complete closing of the auxiliary cover, as described. Additionally, the removable resilient splash guard minimizes or eliminates any injury which might result to a child should it slip forwardly off the seat when not bound by the straps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toilet seat and cover of this invention shown in closed position on a typical toilet seat and bowl;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toilet seat and cover of FIG. 1 but with the auxiliary cover in raised position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the toilet seat and cover of this invention in the partially raised position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and further, is partially cut away to shown the retractable means carried within the toilet seat and cover of this invention for retracting the straps thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the toilet seat and cover of this invention showing the auxiliary cover brace in raised position for cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In general, the toilet seat and cover of this invention has a small opening therein suitable for a child and carries thereon an auxiliary cover which normally covers the children's opening, but which is rotatable into an upraised position to serve as a backrest for a child. The combination seat and cover of this invention is also provided with a deformable resilient splash guard and with retractable straps for use in supporting a child thereon. Both the splash guard and the straps, which are positioned under the auxiliary cover in its normally closed position, permit the latter to be closed so that the top surface of the toilet seat cover of this invention in its normally closed position presents a flat or planar surface suitable for sitting on or placing objects thereon.

As used herein, the term "normal position" of the components of this invention will refer to the position such components assume when the combination toilet seat and cover described herein is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. When the components of this invention are not in their normal position, they will be described as being in a "raised" position. The terms "forward" and "rearward," as used herein, are used with reference to the position of components with respect to the hinge which attaches the toilet seat and cover of this invention to a toilet bowl as shown in, for example, FIG. 1. That is, "rearward" refers to components closest to the hinge and the term "forward" refers to components furthest from the hinge. Herein, this invention will be referred to as a "toilet seat and cover" or as a "combination toilet seat cover."

The toilet seat and cover of this invention will now be more specifically described with reference to the figures. In FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates the combination toilet seat and cover of this invention which is shown in closed position on a conventional toilet seat 11. The conventional toilet seat 11 and the combination cover of this invention 10 are rotatably hinged in conventional manner by a hinge 13 to a conventional toilet bowl 14. The combination toilet seat cover 10 has substantially the same shape and size as the conventional toilet seat 11 so that, when the combination cover 10 is rotated into its normally closed position as shown in FIG. 1, it substantially covers the toilet seat 11. When used by an adult, the combination cover 10 is rotated, as a unit, upwardly away from the conventional toilet seat 11 about the hinge 13.

The combination cover 10 of this invention may be formed from any material that conventional covers are formed from. For example, it may be formed from ethyl cellulose or polyethylene.

The combination toilet seat cover 10 comprises a base or supporting member 12 and an auxiliary cover 18 which is pivotally attached thereto. The base member 12 comprises a rearwardly positioned, generally U-shaped section 15 and a forwardly positioned, depressed section 16 having a hole or opening 17 therethrough which is suitably sized for a child. The auxiliary cover 18 is pivotally mounted behind the children's opening 17 and along the rearward edge of the depressed section 16. Also, the auxiliary cover 18 is generally shaped to conform to the shape of the depressed section 16 and has a depending, arcuate flange or lip 19 along its forward edge. When the auxiliary cover 18 is rotated into its normally closed position as shown in FIG. 1 and in dotted outline 18' in FIG. 3, it substantially completely covers the depressed section 16. In this position, its depending flange 19 snugly overhangs the forward edge of the depressed section.

The thickness of the auxiliary cover 18 is not greater than, and is preferably less than, the distance which the forward section 16 is depressed below the rear U-shaped section 15 so that when the auxiliary cover 18 is in its normal position as shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface of the combination toilet seat cover 10 is substantially flat. To detachably hold the auxiliary cover 18 in its normal position (FIG. 1), a locking pin 20 is securely attached to the undersurface of the auxiliary cover 18 adjacent its depending flange 19 and an aperture 21, aligned with the locking pin 20, is provided in the depressed section 16 to snugly receive the locking pin 20. As above stated, the thickness of the auxiliary cover 18 is preferably less than the depressed distance of the depressed section 16 below the U-shaped section 15. Together with this preferred arrangement, the length of the locking pin 20 and the depth of its aligned mating groove 21 are adjusted so that the undersurface of the auxiliary cover 18 does not touch the depressed section 16 when in its normal position. This preferred arrangement insures that the auxiliary cover-backrest 18 will remain cleaner longer. To facilitate lifting of the auxiliary cover 18 against the frictional force of the locking pin 20 in the aperture 21, an arcuate groove 22 is centrally positioned in the depending flange 19.

Because the auxiliary cover 18 is detachably held to the depressed section 16, the combination toilet seat cover 10 can be raised by an adult as a unit without the auxiliary cover 18 rotating away from it. On the other hand, when a child is to use this invention, the auxiliary cover 18 can be easily and readily rotated away from the underlying depressed section 16 by an adult or older child to expose the children's opening 17.

A pair of aligned recesses 23, 24 are provided in the U-shaped rear section 16 and in the auxiliary cover 18, respectively. The depth of the recesses 23, 24 may be substantially identical or the rear recess 23 may be slightly deeper than the auxiliary cover recess 24. A brace 25 substantially conforming to the dimensions of the auxiliary cover recess 24 is pivotally mounted at one end to the forward end of the recess 24. Its other or rear end is free to travel within the rear or guide recess 23 when the auxiliary cover 18 is raised. Thus, as the auxiliary cover 18 is raised (FIG. 3), the brace 25 rotates away from the auxiliary cover about its pivot point 26 as its free end moves along and is guided by the rear recess 23 in the U-shaped section 15. When the free end of the brace 25 reaches the rear end of the guide recess 23, as shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary cover 18 is firmly supported in a slightly, rearwardly inclined position so that it can function as a backrest for a child in position on the combination toilet seat cover 10.

To facilitate raising of the auxiliary cover 18, the brace is preferably slightly longer than its receiving recess 24 in the auxiliary cover 18. That is, the brace preferably extends slightly into the rear guide recess 23. This is to avoid catching the free end of the brace 25 in the narrow slot 27 (FIG. 5) between the auxiliary cover 18 and the U-shaped section 15. As previously described, the rear guide recess 23 in the U-shaped section 15 may be slightly deeper than the auxiliary cover recess 24. This allows the free end of the brace 25 to drop slightly into the rear guide recess 23 as the auxiliary cover 18 is raised, thereby further securing and guiding the brace 25. As shown in FIG. 5, the brace 25 may be rotated about its pivot point 26 thereby substantially completely expose the recesses 23, 24 so that they may be readily cleaned.

The upper surface of the depressed section 16 is provided with a generally wedge-shaped polyethylene, 28 extending forwardly of the children's opening 17. The wedge-shaped surface 28 is slightly depressed below the upper surface of the depressed section 16 and is partially defined by sides 29, 30. The wedge-shaped surface 28 is sized and shaped to substantially conform to, and to retain thereon, a splash guard 31 when the latter is depressed flat against the depressed surface 28, as when the auxiliary cover 18 is in its normal position. A portion of the upper surface of the depressed section 16 extends over the forward edge of the wedge-shaped surface 28 to form therebetween a generally horizontal slit 32 (FIG. 3) for receiving the forwardly extending end of the splash guard 31 therein.

The splash guard 31 is formed from a deformable, resilient material, such as flexible polyethylene, which is also substantially impervious to urine and other fluids. The splash guard 31 is in a normally extended position in which it is substantially flattened against the depressed, wedge-shaped surface 28. It is retained in this position by the auxiliary cover 18 in its normally closed position. When the auxiliary cover 18 is raised as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the sides of the splash guard 31 automatically contract and the center of the splash guard automatically rises when the pressure of the auxiliary cover is released due to the resilient characteristic of the material forming the splash guard, so that the splash guard assumes a semiconical form with its forward tip remaining in flattened condition within the slit 32. The splash guard 31 may be provided with a fold line (not shown) to facilitate folding of the splash guard on a line along the mouth of the slit 32. The use of such a fold line facilitates expansion of the splash guard 31 when the auxiliary cover 18 is lifted and facilitates bending of the splash guard in a situation where a child falls forwardly off the combination toilet seat cover 10 to prevent or minimize injury to the child. The splash guard 31 slidably fits into the slit 32 and therefore is easily removed and cleaned. The wedge-shaped surface 28 is also readily cleaned when the splash guard 31 is removed.

To secure a child in position on the combination toilet seat cover 10 of this invention, the latter is provided with straps which extend across the depressed forward section and which are sufficiently long to encircle a child when sitting over the children's opening 17. Preferably, the straps are retractable straps 33, 33' as shown in detail in FIG. 4. Each of the retractable straps 33, 33' extends through slots 35 in the forward wall of the U-shaped section 15 adjacent the depressed section 16 and into the interior of the U-shaped section 15 which is preferably hollow. The hidden ends of the retractable straps 33, 33' are attached to extensible members 34, 34', respectively, e.g., rubber bands, which are secured at their other ends to posts 36 fixedly mounted within the U-shaped section 15 and which extend around rotatable posts 37 also mounted within the U-shaped section 15 to provide the required amount of retraction of the straps 33, 33'. Preferably, each of the exposed ends of the retractable straps 33, 33' is provided with a roughened surface which will adhere to the roughened surface of the other strap but which will not irritate a child's skin, e.g., the material marketed under the trademark Velcro. The under surface of the auxiliary cover 18 may be provided with a groove 38 which is deep enough to receive the straps 33, 33' when retracted and folded in overlying relation as shown in FIG. 4 to ensure that the auxiliary cover 18 will lie flat against the depressed section 16.

The straps 33, 33' and extensible members 34, 34' may be positioned within the combination toilet seat cover 10 by first forming, e.g., molding, the latter in upper and lower sections, positioning the straps 33, 33' and extensible members 34, 34' in one of these sections, and bonding the two sections together, e.g., by sonic bonding. The auxiliary cover 18 is molded separately. Pivotal attachment of the auxiliary cover 18 to the combination toilet seat cover 10 and of the base 25 to the auxiliary cover is preferably accomplished using spring-biased hinge pins (not shown) as is well known in the art.