DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The preferred embodiment, a covering for a toilet seat lid generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 8.

[0019] Structure and Relationship of Parts:

[0020] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a toilet generally referenced by the numeral 12, which includes a toilet bowl 14 with an opening 16. A toilet seat 18 is positioned over opening 16 of toilet bowl 14. Referring to FIG. 8, a toilet seat lid 20 is pivotally mounted to toilet seat 18 by a hinge 22. Referring to FIG. 6, a toilet tank 24 is provided which has an opening 26. A handle 28 for flushing toilet 12 is pivotally secured to toilet tank 24. Referring to FIG. 7, a toilet tank lid 30 is also provided which closes opening 26 on toilet tank 24 illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a toilet seat cover, generally reference by the numeral 10, which includes a first body 32 in the form of a pocket 34 which is made of stretch fabric which has an having an opening 36. Referring to FIG. 4, pocket 34 is adapted to elastically conform to contours of toilet seat lid 20 illustrated in FIG. 8, and encapsulate all but hinge 22 of toilet seat lid 20 when pocket 34 is stretched over toilet seat lid 20 with hinge 22 positioned in opening 36.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, a second body generally referenced by numeral 38, is provided in the form of a sleeve 40 which is made of stretch fabric. Referring to FIG. 4, sleeve 40 is adapted to elastically conform to contours of toilet tank 24 illustrated in FIG. 6, and surround toilet tank 24 when sleeve 40 is stretched over toilet tank 24. Referring to FIG. 2, sleeve 40 has a top 42 and a bottom 44. A first opening 46 is provided at top 42 of sleeve 40, and a second opening 48 is provided at bottom 44 of sleeve 40. In the illustrated embodiment, bottom 44 of sleeve 40 also has shaped corners 50 which are adapted to conform to corners 52 located at a bottom 54 of toilet tank 24 illustrated in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 2, an opening 56 is provided in sleeve 40 adjacent to top 42 of sleeve 40 to accommodate handle 28 on toilet tank 24 that is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, there is provided a third body generally referenced by numeral 58, in the form of an enclosure 60 which is also made of stretch fabric. Enclosure 60 has an overlapping slotted opening 62. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, enclosure 60 is adapted to elastically conform to contours of toilet tank lid 30 and completely encapsulate toilet tank lid 30 when enclosure 60 is stretched over toilet tank lid 30 illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0024] Operation:

[0025] The use and operation of covering for a toilet seat lid generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 8. When desired, toilet seat cover, generally referenced by the numeral 10, can be placed on toilet seat lid 20. Referring to FIG. 4, as toilet seat cover 10 is of stretch fabric, it can be stretched to over toilet seat lid 20 to elastically conform to the contours of toilet seat lid 20 illustrated in FIG. 4, and encapsulate all but hinge 22 of toilet seat lid 20 when pocket 34 is stretched over toilet seat lid 20. Because body 32 of toilet seat cover 10 is in the form of pocket 34, it covers both an upper side 66 and a underside 68 of toilet seat lid 20 with hinge 22 positioned in opening 36. This is beneficial, as stretch fabric can also have a decorative feature such as a star print 64 as shown in the illustrated embodiment, and as a result, toilet seat lid 20 has a pleasant decorative appearance when toilet seat lid 20 is in the raised position as illustrated in FIG. 5, as well as when toilet seat lid 20 is in a lowered position as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, to further enhance the aesthetic look of toilet bowl 12, second body 38 can be positioned on toilet tank 24 of toilet 12. As second body 38 is in the form of sleeve 40 which is made of stretch fabric, sleeve 40 adapted to elastically conform to contours of toilet tank 24 and surround toilet tank 24 when sleeve 40 is stretched over toilet tank 24. Shaped corners 50 at bottom 44 of sleeve 40 conform to corners 52 located at a bottom 54 of toilet tank 24. Handle 28 is accommodated by opening 56 provided in sleeve 40 illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, third body 58 in the form of enclosure 60 can be stretched over toilet tank lid 30. To do so, toilet tank lid 30 is inserted into enclosure 60 through overlapping slotted opening 62 illustrated in FIG. 3. As enclosure 60 is also made of stretch fabric, enclosure 60 elastically conforms to contours of toilet tank lid 30 and completely encapsulates toilet tank lid 30 when the enclosure 60 is stretched over toilet tank lid 30.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, by using pocket 34 to cover toilet seat lid 20, sleeve 40 to cover toilet tank 24, and enclosure 60 to cover toilet tank lid 30, the look of toilet 12 can be decoratively co-ordinated. Furthermore, as pocket 34, sleeve 40 and enclosure 60 are made from stretch fabric, they can easily be removed from toilet 12 for washing or replacement.

[0029] Variations

[0030] Although the preferred embodiment of toilet seat lid cover uses stretch fabric, it will be appreciated that one could make a toilet seat lid cover of like appearance using fabric that does not stretch which is pieced together with hidden fasteners.

[0031] In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0032] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.