TOILET BOOSTER PLATFORM

Abstract

A toilet booster platform for use with a regular toilet that helps children or people with disabilities to reach a regular toilet seat. The toilet booster platform is ideal for use in any home to help children maintain and learn coordination and balance, and to gain confidence while learning to use a regular toilet. The toilet booster platform is placed around the base of a toilet to assist children in safely reaching and using a traditional toilet seat to potty train. The toilet booster platform can be in the shape of a horseshoe, or other shape that places a platform area wherever a child might naturally place a foot while sitting on the seat of the toilet. The toilet booster platform shape also fits snugly against the front base of the toilet. The toilet booster platform includes a top non-slip surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/153,793 having a filing date of Feb. 19, 2009, entitled Kiddie Up, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toilets, and more particularly to accessories for enhancing access to toilets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many children fear learning to use a traditional toilet because of its large, intimidating size. Young ones may struggle just to sit on the toilet seat, which may deter them from regularly using a traditional toilet. Some children may outgrow a standard potty training unit before they have picked up the habit of using a real toilet. Others, such as those with disabilities, may also not be capable of using a potty training chair. Children may need parental assistance in reaching a toilet seat of a standard toilet in order to effectively learn to use a standard toilet in their everyday life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toilet booster platform of the invention is a device for use with a regular toilet that can help children or people with disabilities to reach a regular toilet seat so they feel comfortable using the otherwise intimidating item. The toilet booster platform can help the following groups to gain access to and use a full-size toilet: children with disabilities, young ones too large for a standard potty training unit, and late bloomers. The toilet booster platform is ideal in any home to help children maintain and learn coordination and balance, and to gain confidence while learning to use a toilet.

The toilet booster platform Is an apparatus that is placed around the base of a toilet to assist children in safely reaching and using a traditional toilet seat to potty train. The toilet booster platform can be in the shape of a horseshoe, or other shape that places a platform area wherever a child would naturally place a foot. The toilet booster platform shape should also fit snugly against the front base of the toilet.

The toilet booster platform is preferably produced from a hard, durable plastic. Also preferably, The toilet booster platform includes a slip proof top surface, for example, as provided by a rubber coating on top. The slip proof top surface can be a texturing of the plastic of the durable plastic that the rest of the toilet booster platform. Is made from. Alternatively, sand can be embedded in the plastic top surface, as is well-known in the art of non-slip surfaces. The toilet booster platform is preferably sized and weighted such that a child can move or turn easily without losing his balance, and without having the toilet booster platform shift beneath his feet during use. Using the toilet booster platform may also help in bettering a child's coordination and balance. The toilet booster platform can measure approximately 5½″ high, 12″-14″ long, and 22″-24″ wide. It can be produced in a variety of different colors to accommodate user preferences. It can have legs. A variation of the toilet booster platform can have optional handrails on either side for added safety and assistance. The exact dimensions, materials used for construction, and method of operation of the toilet booster platform can vary upon manufacturing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the toilet booster platform in position for use, i.e., placed around the base of a standard-size toilet;

FIG. 2 shows the toilet booster platform in a variety of orientations;

FIG. 3 shows a child sitting on a toilet equipped with a toilet booster platform, with his feet reassuringly touching the toilet booster platform as he sits; and

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the non-slip top surface of the toilet booster platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to precise forms disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A toilet booster platform for use with a regular toilet to provide enhanced access to the regular-sized toilet, the toilet booster platform comprising:

an elevated platform sized and shaped so as to be able to support feet of a user while sitting on the regular-sized toilet; and

a support structure capable of supporting the elevated platform at a height that will facilitate access to the seat of the regular toilet seat.

2. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the elevated platform is sized and shaped so as to fit snugly against the base of the regular toilet.

3. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the elevated platform is sized and shaped so as to fit snugly around the base of the regular toilet.

4. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the elevated platform is a non-slip surface.

5. The toilet booster platform of claim 4, wherein the non-slip surface is made of rubber.

6. The toilet booster platform of claim 4, wherein the non-slip surface is made of textured plastic.

7. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the elevated platform is shaped like a horseshoe.

8. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the elevated platform is made of a hard, durable plastic.

9. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the elevated platform is sized and weighted such that a child can move or turn easily without losing his balance, and without having the toilet booster platform shift beneath his feet during use.

10. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the toilet booster platform is 5½″ high, 12″-14″ long, and 22″-24″ wide.

11. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, further comprising:

a handrail on at least one side of the elevated platform for added safety and assistance.

12. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the support structure capable of supporting the elevated platform is integral with the elevated platform.

13. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, wherein the support structure capable of supporting the elevated platform includes a plurality of legs.

14. A toilet booster platform for use with a regular toilet to provide enhanced access to the regular-sized toilet, the toilet booster platform comprising:

an elevated platform sized and shaped substantially like a horseshoe so as to be able to support feet of a user while sitting on the regular-sized toilet, and so as to fit snugly against the base of the regular toilet, and so as to fit snugly around the base of the regular toilet, a top surface of the elevated platform being a non-slip surface; and

a support structure capable of supporting the elevated platform at a height that will facilitate access to the seat of the regular toilet seat.

15. The toilet booster platform of claim 14, wherein the non-slip surface is made of rubber.

16. The toilet booster platform of claim 14, wherein the non-slip surface is made of textured plastic.

17. The toilet booster platform of claim 14, wherein the elevated platform is made of a hard, durable plastic.

18. The toilet booster platform of claim 14, wherein the elevated platform is sized and weighted such that a child can move or turn easily without losing his balance, and without having the toilet booster platform shift beneath his feet during use.

19. The toilet booster platform of claim 14, wherein the toilet booster platform is 5½″ high, 12″-14″ long, and 22″-24″ wide.

20. The toilet booster platform of claim 1, further comprising:

a handrail on at least one side of the elevated platform for added safety and assistance.