Disposable inflatable toilet seat cover

Abstract

An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover is provided. Such inflatable disposable toilet seat cover includes a generally hollow flexible housing member. Such housing member is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. A valve mechanism is operably disposed on the housing member at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to inflate and deflate such housing member. A securing mechanism is operably connected to the housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing such housing member to a predetermined portion of a toilet.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/958,995 filed Jul. 10, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to toilet seat covers and, more particularly, this invention relates to disposable and inflatable toilet seat covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, disposable toilet seat covers, as are generally well known in the prior art, are usually thin paper covers which may or may not be provided in public restrooms. Although the paper covers are an attempt to provide users with a sanitary means to use a public restroom, often times the covers are too thin and difficult to place on the toilet seat to permit a user to comfortably and sanitarily use a public commode.

Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following:

Baratta, U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,757, discloses a disposable, inflatable, sanitary toilet seat cover which creates a restricted seat opening for use by a small child. A pair of pre-shaped vinyl or plastic layered sheets form a top and a bottom layer, secured to one another by welds which form an inflatable, generally U-shaped cover, adapted in size and dimension to seat on the upper surface and over edges of a standard hard toilet seat.

Schiller, U.S. Publication No. U.S. 2004/0161580 discloses a protective device which consists of two basically oval rings made of soft plastic that are placed one on top of the other and are bonded together, and a plastic check valve for inflating the device by blowing air into the ring, thereby turning it into a soft cushion with a point marked on the edge that makes it possible to deflate the cushion-ring after use.

Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,248, discloses a toilet seat device having an annular inflated body portion for use by children. The toilet seat device fits over a conventional toilet seat attached to a toilet and is secured thereto by a hook and loop type means.

Montaldo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,560, discloses a foldable toilet seat cover for use by small children. The toilet seat cover can be compacted to fit in a purse and has a smaller opening than a typical toilet seat. The toilet seat cover is placed over the conventional toilet seat such that a small child can sit on an adult size toilet comfortably.

Hedvig, Australian Patent No. AU-B-13908/83, discloses an inflatable toilet seat having a base, an inflatable envelope attached to such base, a valve means for inflating and deflating such envelope, and a skirt attached to the base for engaging at least a portion of a rim of a toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an inflatable disposable toilet seat cover. Such inflatable disposable toilet seat cover includes a generally hollow flexible housing member. Such housing member is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. A valve mechanism is operably disposed on the housing member at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to inflate and deflate such housing member. A securing mechanism is operably connected to the housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing such housing member to a predetermined portion of a toilet.

According to another embodiment, a sanitary covering kit for enabling a user to cover a toilet seat is provided. Such kit includes at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover. Such at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover includes a generally hollow flexible housing member, such housing member being manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, a valve means operably disposed on such housing member at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to inflate and deflate such housing member, and a securing means operably connected to such housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing such housing member to a predetermined portion of such toilet. A pump means is included in the kit for enabling a user to inflate such at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of sanitarily covering a toilet seat is provided. Such method includes includes the steps of providing a generally hollow flexible housing member having a valve means operably disposed thereon at a first predetermined location for enabling a user to inflate and deflate such housing member. Inflating such housing member. Placing such inflated housing member over a conventional toilet seat.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a disposable inflatable toilet seat cover for enabling a user to sanitarily and comfortably use a public restroom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable toilet seat cover which can be secured to a conventional toilet seat by suction cup means thereby enabling a user to utilize such cover without slippage and slidage of such cover.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable toilet seat cover for providing additional comfort to users who suffer from conditions such as sores, hemorrhoids, episiotomies, constipation, and the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a compact and lightweight disposable toilet seat cover.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-4.

An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover, generally designated 10, is provided. Such inflatable disposable toilet seat cover 10 includes a generally hollow flexible housing member 12. The housing member 12 is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. A valve means 14 is operably disposed on the housing member 12 at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user (not shown) to inflate and deflate the housing member 12.

A securing means 18 is operably connected to the housing member 12 at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing the housing member 12 to a predetermined portion of a toilet 22.

It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is at least one of plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such predetermined material is plastic.

It is presently preferred that such securing means 18 is at least one suction cup type securing means 24. It is further presently preferred that such securing means 18 includes a plurality of suction cups.

It is presently preferred that such inflatable disposable toilet seat cover 10 further includes a pump means 26 connected for fluid communication to the valve means 14 for enabling a user to inflate such housing member 12.

It is presently preferred that such inflatable disposable toilet seat cover 10 further includes a compressed air canister 28 for fluid communication to such valve means 14 for enabling a user to inflate such housing member 12.

According to another embodiment, a sanitary covering kit, generally designated 20, for enabling a user to cover a toilet seat is provided. Such sanitary covering kit 20 includes at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover 34. Such at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover 34 includes a generally hollow flexible housing member 12, such housing member 12 being manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, a valve means 14 operably disposed on such housing member 12 at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to inflate and deflate such housing member 12, and a securing means 18 operably connected to such housing member 12 at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing such housing member to a predetermined portion of such toilet.

A pump means 26 is included in the kit 20 for enabling a user to inflate such at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover 32.

It is presently preferred that such sanitary covering kit 20 further includes a carrying case 26 for at least one of storing and transporting such sanitary covering kit 20.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of sanitarily covering a toilet seat is provided. Such method includes the steps of providing a generally hollow flexible housing member having a valve means operably disposed thereon at a first predetermined location for enabling a user to inflate and deflate such housing member. Inflating such housing member. Placing such inflated housing member over a conventional toilet seat.

It is presently preferred that such method further includes providing a securing means operably connected to such housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing such housing member to a predetermined portion of a toilet and securing such housing member to the toilet at a predetermined location thereon.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover comprising:

a. a generally hollow flexible housing member, said housing member being manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape;

b. a valve means operably disposed on said housing member at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to inflate and deflate said housing member; and

c. a securing means operably connected to said housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing said housing member to a predetermined portion of a toilet.

2. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is at least one of plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, and a combination thereof.

3. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 2 wherein said predetermined material is plastic.

4. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is at least one suction cup type securing means.

5. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 4 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of suction cups.

6. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable disposable toilet seat cover further includes a pump means connected for fluid communication to said valve means for enabling a user to inflate said housing member.

7. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable disposable toilet seat cover further includes a pump means connected for fluid communication to said valve means for enabling a user to inflate said housing member.

8. An inflatable disposable toilet seat cover according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable disposable toilet seat cover further includes a compressed air canister for fluid communication to said valve means for enabling a user to inflate said housing member.

9. A sanitary covering kit for enabling a user to cover a toilet seat, such kit comprising:

a. at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover including:

i. a generally hollow flexible housing member, said housing member being manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape;

ii. a valve means operably disposed on said housing member at a first predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to inflate and deflate said housing member; and

iii. a securing means operably connected to said housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing said housing member to a predetermined portion of such toilet; and

b. a pump means for enabling a user to inflate said at least one inflatable disposable toilet seat cover.

10. A sanitary covering kit according to claim 9 wherein said kit further includes a carrying case for at least one of storing and transporting said sanitary covering kit.

11. A method of sanitarily covering a toilet seat wherein said method includes the steps of:

a. providing a generally hollow flexible housing member having a valve means operably disposed thereon at a first predetermined location for enabling a user to inflate and deflate said housing member;

b. inflating said housing member; and

c. placing said inflated housing member over a conventional toilet seat.

12. A method of sanitarily covering a toilet seat according to claim 11 wherein said method further includes providing a securing means operably connected to said housing member at a second predetermined location thereon for releasably securing said housing member to a predetermined portion of a toilet and securing said housing member to said toilet at a predetermined location thereon.