Sanitary over

Abstract

Sanitary Cover is a spring-loaded, pressure activated device that can be attached to a toilet seat and has flaps that move out of and into place when pressure is placed on the toilet seat and removed from the toilet seat, respectively. To use Sanitary Cover, a user could mount the device to a conventional toilet seat using the brackets. When a person sits on the toilet seat after proper installation, the weight of the user will cause the springs to flip the flaps open into the toilet bowl. When a user stands up, the pressure will be removed, permitting the springs to flip the flaps back to a closed position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This United States Non-Provisional Patent Application does not claim priority to any United States Provisional Patent applications or any foreign patent applications.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to the restroom and bathroom accessories industry. The invention discussed herein is in the general classification of toilet seats and toilet seat covers and accessories.

BACKGROUND

Germs cover almost every surface on the earth. Individuals are protected to a certain degree from the ill effects of these germs by their immune systems. White blood cells, cilia, and other components work together to keep germs out of the body and to kill any germs that bypass the body's defense mechanisms. The immune system is not perfect, however, and despite the body's best efforts, every person becomes ill at least occasionally.

Individuals attempt to minimize the strain on their immune systems by maintaining a germ free environment. Most people wash their hands regularly, especially during flu and cold seasons, to eliminate germs. Antibacterial hand cleaners are also popular and allow individuals to disinfect their hands even when soap and water are not available.

Homeowners also go to great lengths to keep their homes clean and as germ free as possible. Many household cleaners and sprays are specifically designed to disinfect and kill germs. Even with all the products that are available, however, it is impossible for a person to live in a completely germ free environment.

The bathroom is one of the most germ-laden rooms in a home. Consumers expend significant resources to keep bathrooms clean, but no matter how many disinfectant products are utilized, germs remain in the bathroom. Bathrooms are often contaminated through the flushing of a toilet. When a toilet is flushed with the lid up, germs and bacteria are released into the air and cover many surfaces in the bathroom. Unfortunately, many people, especially young children, do not close the lid to the toilet before they flush the toilet.

Hence, there is a need in the art for an easy to use, affordable, safe and effective device for automatically covering a toilet seat before the toilet is flushed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Sanitary Cover is a spring-loaded, pressure activated device that can be attached to a toilet seat and has flaps that move out of and into place when pressure is placed on the toilet seat and removed from the toilet seat, respectively.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device that attaches to a toilet seat and covers the opening to the toilet seat to prevent discharge of germs to the bathroom environment when the toilet is flushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an affordable device that covers the opening to the toilet seat when the toilet is flushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is safe to use in public restrooms or in households bathrooms and covers the opening to a toilet seat when the toilet is flushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that easily attaches to a toilet seat and that is easily used for covering the opening to a toilet seat when the toilet is flushed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, durable device that attaches to a toilet seat and can fit on any standard toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a toilet seat.

FIG. 3 depicts a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a toilet seat with the flaps of the preferred embodiment in the down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of Sanitary Cover is comprised of flaps that can be attached to a toilet seat via brackets. The brackets are operatively attached to the flaps and springs. The flaps are surrounded by a seal and capable of opening when pressure is applied to the toilet seat and closing when pressure is removed from the toilet seat.

FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Two flaps 1 are surrounded by a seal 2. The flaps 1 are each semicircular in shape and measure twenty inches in length and approximately ten inches in width in the middle. The flaps 1 are approximately one-quarter of an inch in thickness and made of plastic in this preferred embodiment although rubber or other materials could also be utilized. The flaps 1 overlap slightly and are preferably made of a nonporous, durable and flexible plastic that permits the flaps 1 to conform to both oval and round shaped toilet bowls when installed on a toilet. Rubber or a sponge type material would ideally be used to form the seal 2 between the toilet seat and the rim of the toilet bowl although other materials could also be utilized.

Brackets 3 are attached to the underside of the flaps 1 and to springs (not pictured). The springs and brackets 3 are made of stainless steel or plastic. In the preferred embodiment shown, four brackets 3 are utilized to attach to a toilet seat.

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when it is attached to a toilet seat 20. The brackets 3 attach to the underside of the toilet seat 20 and to the springs 21 and the flaps 1 via bracket arms 22. The springs 21 are pressure activated such that weight or other force applied to the toilet seat 20 will deploy the springs 21 and force the bracket arms 22 to move and consequently the flaps 1 to open. A variety of attaching mechanisms may be utilized to mount the brackets 3 to the toilet seat 20, including but not limited to screws with corresponding holes in the brackets 3 and underside of the toilet seat 20. The seal 2 is also visible from this angle.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention when it is attached to the toilet seat 20. The flaps 1 are shown in the open position. The bracket arms 22 connected to the spring force the flaps 1 to open when pressure is applied to the toilet seat 20. The flaps 1 are shown with a slight curve that will naturally occur when the flaps 1 contact the toilet bowl due to the flexible nature of the material used for the flaps 1 in the preferred embodiment. The seal 2 is visible beneath the toilet seat 20.

Several possible variations of the preferred embodiment are possible. In one alternative embodiment, a lever can be attached to the flaps to permit manual opening and closing of the device without applying pressure to the toilet seat.

The device may also be produced with it already installed on a toilet seat. It would simply be a modification to existing toilet seat designs that utilize a two-piece system. The bottom portion of a conventional toilet seat provides a comfortable area for a person to sit and is connected by a hinge to a lid that must be manually opened and closed. In one embodiment of the invention, the device described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3 will be installed on a conventional toilet seat to form a third piece to the system.

To use Sanitary Cover, a user could mount the device to a conventional toilet seat using the brackets. When a person sits on the toilet seat after proper installation, the weight of the user will cause the springs to flip the flaps open into the toilet bowl. When a user stands up, the pressure will be removed, permitting the springs to flip the flaps back to a closed position.

The components of Sanitary Cover may vary widely but will likely utilize plastic, metal and rubber components. The metals would ideally be selected from available steel or alloys of steel and aluminum. The production process related to the use of these metals insures that the metal is non-corrosive, durable and strong. The selected metal should have high impact strength and be capable of accepting and retaining coloring materials for an extended length of time. Stainless steel would be most appropriate because the device will be used in or near water.

The plastic used in the production will ideally be selected for durability and longevity. Thermoplastics are commonly used in the manufacturing of components similar to those used in this invention. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other similar thermoplastic materials would be among those with the necessary traits. Members of this family are recognized universally as being versatile and of high quality.

The plastic components of Sanitary Cover can also be formed with the use of plastic molding techniques, such as injection molding or blow molding. Injection molding requires melted plastic to be forcefully injected into relatively cool molds. As the plastic begins to harden, it takes on the shape of the mold cavity. This technique is ideal for the mass production of products. Alternatively, blow molding, a form of extrusion, could be utilized. Blow molding involves a molten tube being pushed into a mold. Compressed air then forces the molten tube against the cold walls of the mold.

The size of Sanitary Cover may vary widely. It should be obvious that any color, shape or size toilet seat could be utilized with the present invention. It should further be obvious that while the current invention is described herein in conjunction with public restroom and household use, it could be used anywhere a toilet is located, including on buses, airplanes, recreational vehicles and the like. It should further be obvious that although the device described herein is ideally used with an elongated oval shaped toilet seat or circular shaped toilet seat, a horseshoe or other shaped toilet seat could also utilize the present invention. Also, while the preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes springs located on the brackets, it is possible to have the brackets utilized solely for attachment to the toilet seat while employing arms attached to the springs in other locations on the device.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A restroom device comprising:

(a) a first arm that is connected to a first spring on one end and to a first flap on the opposite end; and

(b) a second arm that is connected to a second spring on one end and to a second flap on the opposite end.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first flap and the second flap are semicircular.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first flap and the second flap are made of rubber.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first flap and the second flap are made of plastic.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first flap and the second flap slightly overlap.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein a seal surrounds the first flap and the second flap.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the seal is made of rubber.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the seal is made of a sponge type material.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first spring is located on a first bracket and the second spring is located on a second bracket.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the first bracket, the first arm and the first spring and the second bracket, the second arm and the second spring are made of stainless steel.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the first bracket and the first arm and the second bracket and the second arm are made of plastic.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein a lever is operatively attached to the first flap and to the second flap.

13. A restroom device comprising:

(a) a toilet seat attached to a first bracket on one side and a second bracket on the opposite side;

(b) a first bracket arm connected to a first spring located on the first bracket on one end and to a first flap on the opposite end; and

(c) a second bracket arm connected to a second spring located on the second bracket on one end and to a second flap on the opposite end.

14. A restroom device comprising:

(a) a toilet seat attached to a first bracket, a second bracket, a third bracket and a fourth bracket;

(b) a first bracket arm connected to a first spring located on the first bracket on one end and to a first flap on the opposite end;

(c) a second bracket arm connected to a second spring located on the second bracket on one end and to the first flap on the opposite end;

(d) a third bracket arm connected to a third spring located on the third bracket on one end and to a second flap on the opposite end;

(e) a fourth bracket arm connected to a fourth spring located on the fourth bracket on one end and to the second flap on the opposite end;

(f) said first flap and said second flap being made of plastic and being semi-circular in shape and slightly overlapping;

(g) a seal made of rubber surrounding the first flap and the second flap; and

(h) the first spring, the first bracket and the first bracket arm and the second spring, the second bracket and the second bracket arm and the third spring, the third bracket and the third bracket arm and the fourth spring, the fourth bracket and the fourth bracket arm are made of stainless steel.