ANTI-BACTERIAL WET-PAPER SHIELD TOILET SEAT COVERS

Abstract

As a result of market testing the prototype on the job, in school, in the park, and at the gas station, there is no doubt that Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers serve as a reliable sanitary barrier between the unsanitary environment of public toilet seats and the bare skin of the person using the toilet. When used as directed, Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers provide a comfortable and protective sanitary surface to sit on while using public toilets, as well as a peace-of-mind in knowing the extra measures that have been taken

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the growing field of antibacterial, anti-fungal wet-paper products and the growing demand for sanitary toilet products. “Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers” were developed to fulfill the need for a convenient product that would promote the sanitary use of public toilets. This product expands the use and application of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal wet wipe products to the public toilet industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While working as a Concert Tour Manager in the music business much of our travelling was by bus. Whenever we would pull into a rest stop area, we found that we shared the rest room facilities with thousands of other travelers. There were constant complaints, particularly from the women in our entourage, about the toilets at these rest stops, that they were highly unsanitary, and one sat down at the risk of being exposed to a contaminated surface. Many of the women would squat over the toilet in a horse-stance posture, so as to avoid making skin contact with the toilet seat surface. Others who were unable to maintain the horse-stance posture while answering the call of nature, would opt to spread toilet paper or paper hand towels on the toilet seat so as to create a protective barrier between their bare skin and the toilet seat surface.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In public toilets there generally is no protection available for anyone needing to sit down to answer the call of nature. One would have to rely on there being enough toilet paper on hand to fashion a protective barrier between the toilet seat and the bare skin of the user. In some rest stops, however, there are available, dry-tissue paper toilet seat covers that are housed in a dispenser on the wall inside the toilet booth. These dry-tissue seat covers, when available, tend to be very flimsy, easily torn, and begin to disintegrate once they become wet. For example: flushing the toilet during a bowel movement causes the dry-tissue seat covers to become wet from the spray of water in the toilet bowl. Several flushes later and there may be nothing left of the dry-tissue seat cover, or it will be soaked in toilet water, exposing the user to possible infection through direct skin contact with bacteria and other such microbes that inhabit public toilets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield toilet seat covers are manufactured from non-woven cloth, a much stronger and more far more robust toilet seat cover. These wet-paper shields are treated with Kathon CG, an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal solution, used in most water-based personal care products, and are used in concert with the soft vinyl-mat toilet seat cover (FIG. 4, FIG. 6) so that the user sits comfortably upon the vinyl-mat seat cover feeling no wetness. This use of the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield toilet Seat Covers provides the user a double-layer of protection, a physical layer of protection against direct skin contact with what may be a contaminated public toilet-seat surface in a public restroom, and also a psychological layer of protection and peace-of-mind while using a public toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the view of a deployed Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Cover. The dimensions are those of a standard-size toilet seat, i.e., 13″×15″ with a cut-out tab left intact for easy disposal after use. The center cut-out over the toilet bowl measures 8″×9″ and the cut-out tab is exactly that size, having been cut from the cloth.

FIG. 2 is the size of a ¼ folded wet-paper shield toilet seat cover. The 13″×15″ seat cover folds into the 3″×5″ fold depicted in the drawing.

FIG. 3 illustrates the size of the polyethylene bag that the wet-paper shield toilet seat cover comes wrapped in, i.e., 3¼″×6½″. This bag is sealed and will preserve the wet-paper shield for two years.

FIG. 4 illustrates the Soft Vinyl Cushion Seat Cover that is to be used with the anti-bacterial wet-paper shield toilet seat covers. It is soft and can be ¼ folded for easy transport in the carry pouch, in a briefcase, or in a purse. It is reusable and serves to provide for comfortable use of the wet-paper shields. You don't' feel the wetness.

FIG. 5 illustrates the approximate size of the Soft Vinyl Seat Cushion when ¼ folded for storage in the carry pouch. It measures 5½″×7⅜″ when thus folded.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers are to be used with the Soft Vinyl Seat Cushion.

FIG. 7 illustrates the convenient Carry Pouch where the Soft Vinyl Seat Cushion and the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shied Toilet Seat Covers are stored in zippered compartments until they are needed. The carry pouch measures 12″×6″ and can be conveniently worn around the waist as it has an attached waist strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

How the Invention Works. Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers {See FIGS. 1, 2 & 3} are machined milled to fit neatly over any standard sized toilet seat. Unfolded they measure 15″×13″ with an inner cut-out area over the toilet bowl that measures 8″×9.″ The cut-out tab is left intact. This part hangs outside the toilet bowl and serves as a handle to lift the wet paper shield off the toilet seat to discard into the trash after use. The wet paper shields come ¼ folded and shrink wrapped in a polyethylene bag to preserve the wet freshness, are easy to carry in a purse, in a brief case, or in the convenient carry pouch {See FIG. 7}. The Active Ingredient: Kathon CG, consists of Purified Water—99.65%, Plant Spices—0.2%, Methylchlorisothiazolinone & Deionized Water—0.15%. The ¼-folded wet-paper shield wrapped in the poly bag measures 6½″×3½″×⅛″ for easy storage. The wet-paper shields are “use once, throw away.” 1) To facilitate the use of the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield toilet seat covers, the soft vinyl-mat toilet seat cushion is used {FIG. 4}. This vinyl-seat cushion measures 13″×15″×⅛″ and has a cut-out hole measuring 8″×9″ for toilet bowl access. It is non-slip and is placed directly on top of the deployed wet-paper shield, providing comfort as well as added protection, both physical and psychological, even shielding the user from feeling the dampness of the wet-paper shield while in use {FIG. 6, Steps 1, 2, & 3}.

This vinyl-mat seat cushion is soft and pliable and can be ¼-folded to fit neatly inside a purse, a briefcase, or inside a zippered pocket of the carry pouch {FIG. 5 & FIG. 7} depending on what is convenient to the user. 2) Both the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers {FIG. 1}, and the accompanying Soft Vinyl-Seat Cushion {FIG. 4}, when ¼-folded {FIG. 3 & FIG. 5} fit conveniently into their respective zippered compartments in the carry pouch {FIG. 7}, which for added convenience can also carry a supply of toilet paper, just in case. These items used together function as a convenient travel kit. 3) By following, steps 1, 2, & 3 of FIG. 6, anyone can easily avail themselves the protection of Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers, for comfortable, safe and sanitary use of public toilets.

Claims

1. Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers are the answer to concerns about the sanitary use of public restrooms. It is well known that it is possible to contract Hepatitis-A from a public bathroom. You can come into direct contact with traces of the stool, blood, or urine of an infected person. Since a person, such as a restaurant worker, with Hepatitis-A who does not wash his/her hands properly after using the bathroom, and who subsequently handles food or other objects can contaminate the food and objects, it makes good sense to be on guard against contamination while using a bathroom that may have been used by such a person. A person who is infected with Hepatitis-A or other diseases can easily pass the disease on to others who share the same space. While you are away from home, whether at work, at school, shopping, attending a sporting event, at a picnic, travelling, or simply strolling through the park, when nature calls you must answer the call. So without giving it a second thought you head straight away for the nearest restroom.

Can you be certain that the public restroom you find is sanitary? Will you be safe from infection while using it? Given the recent proliferation of infections resulting from skin-contact with unsanitary surfaces, you cannot be too careful. Why take a chance? When used as instructed, Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers form an effective barrier against direct skin contact with bacteria, fungi, other germs, and parasites that pose a threat to your health.