Title:

Toilet seat lid cover

United States Patent Application 20030204899

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A removable toilet lid cover with hook-and-loop or other fasteners for quick and sturdy attachment to a toilet lid. The uniquely designed lid cover does not extend to a toilet lid's side or underside and consequently avoids soiling by an inattentive user.

Inventors:

Cairns, Janice E. (Woodstock, GA, US)

Application Number:

10/139725

Publication Date:

11/06/2003

Filing Date:

05/06/2002

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

CAIRNS JANICE E.

Primary Class:

4/234

International Classes:

A47K13/24; (IPC1-7): A47K13/00

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20030204899

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Primary Examiner:

WIEKER, AMANDA F

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

MEHRMAN LAW OFFICE, P.C. (ATLANTA, GA, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for a toilet lid, comprising: a cover body with a bottom surface and with outer dimensions that are the same as or smaller than outer dimensions of the lid; and mating fasteners including one or more cover fasteners coupled to the bottom surface of the cover body and one or more lid fasteners adapted to be coupled to the lid.

2. The lid cover of claim 1, wherein the lid has a side and a bottom surface, and wherein the lid cover body does not extend down onto the lid bottom surface.

3. The lid cover of claim 2, wherein the lid cover body does not extend down over the side of the lid.

4. The lid cover of claim 3, wherein the lid cover is substantially concealed behind the lid when the lid is in a raised position and is viewed from a standing user's vantage point.

5. The lid cover of claim 1, wherein the lid fasteners are coupled to a top surface of the lid.

6. The lid cover of claim 1, wherein the mating fasteners comprise a plurality of fastener strips.

7. The lid cover of claim 6, wherein the mating fasteners comprise a peripheral fastener strip.

8. The lid cover of claim 7, wherein the mating fasteners further comprise at least one interior fastener strip positioned within the peripheral fastener strip.

9. The lid cover of claim 6, wherein the mating fasteners comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.

10. The lid cover of claim 1, wherein the cover fasteners comprise a sheet of material.

11. The lid cover of claim 10, wherein the sheet has outer dimensions that are the same as or smaller than a top surface of the lid.

12. The lid cover of claim 11, wherein the mating fasteners comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.

13. A cover for a toilet lid having a top surface, a side, and a bottom surface, the cover comprising: a cover body with a bottom surface and with outer dimensions that are the same as or smaller than outer dimensions of the top surface of the lid, wherein the cover body does not extend down over the lid side or onto the lid bottom surface, and wherein the lid cover is substantially concealed behind the lid when the lid is in a raised position and is viewed from a standing user's vantage point; and mating hook-and-loop fasteners including one or more cover fasteners coupled to the bottom surface of the cover body and one or more lid fasteners adapted to be coupled to the top surface of the lid.

14. The lid cover of claim 13, wherein the mating fasteners comprise a plurality of fastener strips.

15. The lid cover of claim 14, wherein the mating fasteners comprise a peripheral fastener strip and at least one interior fastener strip positioned within the peripheral fastener strip.

16. The lid cover of claim 13, wherein the bottom surface fastener comprises a sheet of material with outer dimensions that are the same as or smaller than outer dimensions of the top surface of the lid.

17. The lid cover of claim 13, wherein the cover body is a slab or sheet of fabric, carpet, plastic, wood, or a combination thereof.

18. The lid cover of claim 13, wherein the lid cover body has a shape that is the same as or similar to a shape of the lid.

19. The lid cover of claim 13, wherein the lid cover body has a decorative shape that is unrelated to a shape of the lid.

20. The lid cover of claim 13, wherein the lid cover body has a top surface that is selected to coordinate with colors or items in the vicinity of the toilet.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to toilets and, more particularly, to a removable cover for quick and sturdy attachment to a toilet lid while limiting the potential for soiling by an inattentive user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the growing popularity of interior design, there have been efforts to improve the décor of various rooms in the home. Individuals of varying age frequent the bathroom. As a result, there has been a push to develop aesthetically pleasing yet functional restrooms. To improve bathroom décor, a bathroom may include decorative shower curtains with coordinated rugs and soap dispensers.

[0003] Some decorative efforts have included putting a fabric cover on the toilet lid colored to coincide with the general bathroom color scheme. Generally, these covers fit over the lid and an elastic portion that extends along the lid's underside holds the cover in place. While this type of cover does improve bathroom décor, it creates other problems. Because the cover extends along the lid's underside, the cover is exposed when the toilet is in use. Consequently, a youth or inattentive adult can soil the cover when using the toilet. Soiling this fabric cover can create an odor that detracts from the bathroom décor that the cover helped create.

[0004] Despite the development in the area of toilet lid covers, conventional solutions do not provide an effective method of improving bathroom décor by covering a toilet lid while limiting the potential for soiling. Thus, a need still exists for a more effective toilet lid cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention meets the needs described above in a removable toilet lid cover for quick and sturdy attachment to a toilet lid while limiting the potential for soiling by an inattentive user. The invention's uniquely designed cover does not extend to a toilet lid's side or underside and consequently avoids soiling.

[0006] Generally described, the lid cover is a cover body with a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface can be decorative to coordinate with colors or items in the bathroom. The cover body has outer dimensions that are the same as or smaller than the outer dimensions of the lid. Also, the lid cover has mating fasteners, including cover fasteners on the bottom surface of the cover body and lid fasteners for mounting to the lid.

[0007] The toilet lid has a side and a bottom surface, and because the lid cover body is smaller than the lid, it does not extend down over the side of the lid or onto the bottom of the lid. In this way, the lid cover is concealed behind the lid when the lid is in a raised position when viewed by a standing user.

[0008] The mating fasteners may be provided by conventional hook-and-loop fasteners. In this way, the lid cover can be easily removed and replaced with another lid cover, as suits the user. Alternatively, other removable fasteners can be used.

[0009] In a first embodiment, the mating fasteners are arranged in strips. For example, the fasteners can be provided by a peripheral strip and at least one interior fastener strip positioned within the peripheral fastener strip.

[0010] In a second embodiment, the cover fasteners are provided by a sheet of material for mating with the lid fasteners and having outer dimensions that are the same as or smaller than the top surface of the lid. For example, the cover fasteners can be provided by a loop-type material such as loop fasteners, terry cloth, etc.

[0011] In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a toilet having a lid cover according to the present invention avoids the drawbacks of prior systems. The specific techniques and structures employed by the invention to improve over the drawbacks of the prior systems and accomplish the advantages described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention and the appended drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commode with a detachable lid cover illustrating a first embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the commode of FIG. 1 illustrating mating fastener strips that connect the lid cover to the commode lid.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a commode with a detachable lid cover illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0015] In describing the embodiments of the present invention, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional commode 100 with a bowl 102 and with a seat 104 and a lid 106 hinged to the bowl. A lid cover 110 is provided that attaches to the lid 106 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The lid cover 110 is a cover body 112 with a top surface 120 and a bottom surface 122. The cover body 112 is a slab or sheet of fabric, carpet, plastic, wood, a combination thereof, or other material. The top surface 120 is selected to coordinate with colors or items in the bathroom. For example, the cover body 112 can be made of a fabric with the top surface 120 having a color selected to coordinate with the color-scheme of the bathroom or with another decorative appearance such as a design or graphic.

[0017] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid cover body 112 can be shaped and sized to be approximately the same size and shape as the top surface 108 of the lid 106. In any configuration, the lid cover body 112 is sized no larger than the top surface 108 of the lid 106. When so sized, the lid cover body 112 effectively conceals and decorates the lid's top surface 108 but does not extend down over the side 107 of the lid and to its bottom surface 109. In this way, when the lid 106 is in the raised position so that the toilet 100 can be used by standing males for urination, the lid cover 110 is entirely or nearly entirely concealed behind the lid 106. Because none of the lid cover 110 is exposed to the user, he cannot accidentally urinate onto it.

[0018] With regards to the shape of the lid cover body 112, it could be oval-shaped, circular, or some other suitable shape that matches the lid's shape. Alternatively, the cover body 112 could have a shape completely different from the lid's shape. For example, the lid 106 could be oval-shaped and the cover body 112 could be smaller and heart-shaped, to accentuate the bathroom décor for Valentine's Day.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the commode 100 with the lid cover 110 removed and illustrating fasteners 130 mounted onto or integrated into the lid 106. The configuration of the fasteners 130 illustrated in the figure includes a peripheral fastener strip and a number of interior fastener strips positioned within the peripheral fastener strip. The number, size, and position of these fasteners may vary. In an alternative embodiment, the fasteners could be positioned in another regular or irregular arrangement on the lid. For example, the fasteners 130 could be positioned along the peripheral edges of the lid 106 with no fasteners in the lid's center.

[0020] To removably secure the lid cover 110 to the lid 106, the lid fasteners 130 mate with fasteners 140 positioned on the bottom surface 122 of the lid cover body 112. For example, the mating fasteners 130 and 140 can be hook-and-loop fasteners. Alternatively, other types of fasteners may be used, such as double-sided tape, magnetic and metallic strips attached to the lid and the lid cover, snaps, and/or epoxy, silicone gel, or another adherent that can be readily dissolved to remove the lid cover.

[0021] Using hook and loop fasteners, the lid cover 110 can be quickly and firmly attached to and detached from the lid 106. When changing the bathroom's color scheme or cleaning the bathroom, an individual can quickly and easily peel off the lid cover 110 and replace it with another cover. Because the lid cover body 112 is firmly attached to the lid 106 by the fasteners 130 and 140, twisting or rocking motion by toilet users does not loosen or detach the cover from the lid 106. In addition, this movement does not cause the cover 110 to be exposed during use and subject to soiling.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lid cover 210 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the lid cover 210 detachably connects to the lid 206 of the toilet 200 by fasteners 230 and 240. In this embodiment, however, the cover fasteners 240 are provided by a sheet of material for mating with the lid fasteners 230 and having a size and shape that is the same as or smaller than the top surface 208 of the lid 206. For example, if the lid fasteners 230 are provided by hook-type fasteners, then the cover fasteners 240 could be provided by a sheet of loop-type material for mating with the lid fasteners. The loop-type material may be a sheet of loop fasteners, fabric with loops such as terry cloth, or another conventional material. Similarly, the lid fasteners 230 could be provided by a sheet of mating material.

[0023] In this arrangement, the sheet of material of the cover fasteners 230 will engage the lid fasteners 240 wherever the lid fasteners are positioned. Accordingly, the fasteners 230 and 240 do not need to be aligned when installing the cover 210 on the lid 206. This makes for an even quicker and easier installation and ensures that the cover 210 will not come loose over time.

[0024] In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a toilet lid cover that avoids soiling during use of the toilet. In addition, the toilet lid cover is easily removable so that it can be replaced seasonally or otherwise as suits the user. While the invention has been disclosed in preferred forms for illustration purposes, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

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