Disposable toilet seat cover for toddlers

Abstract

A supportive toilet seat wrap for toddlers is disclosed. The toddler toilet seat wrap is comprised of a non-slip flexible sheet that has front, back, and side portions that define an opening to accomodate the toddler. The side portions are long enough to stretch over and thus blanketing an adult toilet seat while the non-slip flexible sheet provides a sanitary and stable platform for the toddler.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sanitary toilet seat covers and more particularly to supportive and disposable toilet seat covers for toddlers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Public rest room toilet seats are generally elongated commercial seats with open fronts that are clearly not designed for a toddler's need. Toilet seats around the world do not provide any support for the toddlers buttocks and body weight due to the fact that they are made for adult use. In these instances, a child, especially a physically challenged child, has no choice but to suspend and balance, if possible, its body weight on the rim of a much used adult toilet seat.

[0003] In most cases, the child may be forced to hold onto the toilet seat and/or lean extremely forward with buttocks suspended over the toilet's opening. Public health concerns have resulted in many public toilet facilities in 15 restaurants, airports, aircraft and similar places providing toilet seat covers in order to prevent the user's skin from contacting the toilet seat. These toilet seat covers generally consist of a sheet of paper with a partially cut-out center section. However, these paper covers do not provide any support for a toddler by holding up the toddler's body weight, allowing it to sit in a safe and comfortable yet natural position, thereby preventing it from falling through the large toilet seat. Additionally, the paper cover does not create a sanitized barrier due to the act that (1) it does not securely wrap the seat creating a tight bond and a generous blanketing barrier from bacteria; (2) it lays loosely on top of the toilet seat with no anchoring means; and (3) paper covers allow liquids to pass through it. Paper 25 covers require constant attention and alignment for they are easily displaced and may slip from the toilet seat during preparation for use.

[0004] Toddler toilet seat covers that fit onto adult seats to enable toddler use are generally bulky and made of hard plastic. While some do fold to make transporting somewhat easier, parents generally do not have enough luggage spaces or hands to justify additional travel items that may never be used. More importantly, if a transportable toddler seat is used today, re-sanitizing it is a tedious and undesirable endeavor. When the task of monitoring a toddler in a public restroom is added to the sanitizing task, the impractical if not impossible nature is readily apparent. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a toddler seat that allows the user to 10 fully sit in a safe and natural position, thereby enabling a serviceable and affordable answer to age old parental concern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present teaches a device that provides a supportive toddler toilet seat wrap comprising a non-slip flexible and stretchable sheet. The sheet has clinging characteristics allowing it to adhere aggressively to porcelain, plastic and metal. The sheet has front and back portions joined by side portions. The front, back, and side portions define an opening that accommodates the toddler. The side portions are of sufficient length to enable the user to stretch the present invention over an adult toilet seat. The sheet forms a secure bond with the adult toilet, thereby providing the toddler and/or adult with a sanitary and stable platform.

[0006] Advantageously, the present invention can be used with virtually any type of toilet seat. By employing non-slip materials, the present invention insures that a sanitary barrier remains in place despite the best efforts of a toddler otherwise. The present invention is a versatile and simple solution to providing a supportive and convenient disposable toilet seat wrap for toddlers and adults.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exemplary toddler toilet seat cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] The exemplary toilet seat cover for toddlers can be seen in FIG. 1. The toddler toilet seat cover 10 is a flexible sheet designed to cover an adult toilet seat 12. The toddler toilet seat cover 10 has a front portion 14 and a back portion 16, joined by side portions 18. The front, back and side portions define an opening 22 to accommodate the toddler and allow the passage of waste.

[0010] The size of the toddler toilet seat cover 10 is designed to provide blanketing over the top of the adult toilet seat 12 as well as a percentage of the toilet 50. For a standard adult toilet seat, a preferred size is 15″×24″. The flexibility of the present invention is seen in that different sizes can be designed to accommodate non-standard toilet seats although it is understood that the 15″×24″ size can function properly with the vast majority of toilet seats in use today. The size of the toddler toilet seat cover 10 insures that the side portions 18 are of sufficient length to wrap the adult toilet seat 12.

[0011] The application of the toddler toilet seat cover 10 is quick, safe, and secure. The user clings the toilet seat cover 10 onto a topside of the adult toilet seat 12 nearest the seat hinge (not shown) and simultaneously pulls and stretches the front 14 and side portions 18 to drape the adult toilet seat 12 and toilet 50. Finally, the front 14 and side portions 18 are pulled forward from the back and then draped over the adult toilet seat 12 and toilet 50. The toddler toilet seat cover 10 comprises a non-slip material. This characteristic of the toddler toilet seat cover 10 insures a secure fit to porcelain, plastic, and metal sur faces. Even a twisting and grappling toddler or physically challenged toddler can be fully seated without disturbing or shifting the toddler toilet seat cover 10. In one embodiment of the present invention, the non-slip material is a heavy duty polyvinyl material such as Saran Wrap.

[0012] After use, the toilet seat cover 10 is merely pulled off by the user and disposed. The adult's hands remain on an outside surface of the toddler toilet seatcover 10 during removal, thereby practically eliminating the possiblity of contact with any potential unsanitary conditions on the adult toilet seat 12. Disposal can be in a trash receptacle. Alternatively, the non-slip flexible sheet can becomprised of a material that facilitates disposal by flushing without clogging the drain pipes.

[0013] In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the back portion 16 of the toddler toilet seat cover 10 is doubled over. The back portion 16 is folded down and in, forming a double layer that increases the strength of the toddler toilet seat cover 10. A preferred length of the back portion 16 to be manufactured double folded is approximately four inches. The added strength more easily accomodates the toddler's body weight focal point in the tailbone area. The exemplary invention solves the problem of providing a simple, supportive, safe, and conveniently transportable toilet seat cover for toddlers. As such, it has many potential applications where size and portability are driving concerns. One envisioned use is with portable potties seen at outdoor events such as carnivals or concerts. Unsanitary conditions are often present at portable potties at these events. Indeed, any trip where high volume public restroom use may be necessary for toddlers can be readily and safely addressed with the present invention. It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention specifically shown and described is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make alternate embodiments using different configurations and functionally equivalent components. All such alternate embodiments are intended to be included in the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A supportive toddler toilet seat wrap comprising:

a non-slip flexible sheet for wrapping over an adult toilet seat, said non-slip flexible sheet having a front portion and a back portion;

side portions joined to said front portion and said back portion, said side portions being of sufficient length to stretch and wrap said adult seat and toilet; and

said side portions, front portion, and back portion defining an opening to accomodate a toddler.

2. The supportive toddler toilet seat wrap of claim 1, wherein said non-slip flexible sheet comprises a heavy duty polyvinyl material.

3. The supportive toddler toilet seat wrap of claim 1, wherein said back portion is folded onto itself to form a double layer of said non-slip flexible sheet.

4. The supportive toddler toilet seat wrap of claim 1, wherein said non-slip flexible sheet comprises a disposable and lightweight material.