Toilet diaper/floor protector
A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet includes a first panel to cover the floor and abut a first portion of the toilet, a second panel to cover the floor and abut a second portion of the toilet. The first panel and the second panel provide continuous coverage of the floor around the toilet.
A common problem in toilets used by men the world over is soiled floors caused by uric acid. Frequent cleaning of these floors is necessary to prevent the floors from becoming unhygienic, unsightly and unaesthetic. This problem is particularly enhanced by boys when learning the use of the toilet and by older men who have diminished eyesight using the toilet.
The frequent cleaning of these floors is expensive in labor, and unpleasant to perform, and does not necessary solve the problem completely. The action of the uric acid on commonly used floor finishes may result in unsightly discolorations of the floor surface within a short time period and may cause permanent damage to the floor. This damage to the floor may require that the floor surface be replaced, resulting the additional and significant expense. Permanently laid carpeting suffers the same defects.
Since this problem has faced by most parents of boys, a solution should be adaptable to toilets found in most homes and other places where these boys are found. However, there is no uniform toilet and no uniform toilet size.
Therefore, the solution should take in to account the varying sizes and shapes of toilets used in house, intuitions and business around the world.
Additionally, the solution should be economical.
SUMMARYThe present invention includes a device to protect a floor surface around a toilet including a first panel to cover the floor and abut a first portion of the toilet, a second panel to cover the floor and abut a second portion of the toilet. The first panel and the second panel provide continuous coverage of the floor around the toilet.
The device may include a hole for the toilet where a size of said hole can be changed to abut said toilet.
The device may include a weaken area to enlarge said size of said hole. Two panels may be overlapped to reduce the size of the hole.
The two panels may have a fastener the maintained the size of the hole; the fastener may be a VELCRO® portion or a hook.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
Additionally, some toilets include pipes that feed the toilet. These pipes in the back of the toilet cause additional problems in achieving a seal between the toilet 110 and the floor protector 100. The left and right rear panels 240, 250 help in achieving the seal in the presence of these pipes to prevent or restrict uric acid from reaching the floor.
The material of the floor protector 100 should be of a type to prevent all or the majority of uric acid from reaching the floor. Some types of material that could be used to form the floor protector 100 are terrycloth, cotton, a cotton blend and absorbent baby diaper material. Other types of absorbent materials with similar properties could be substitute and still achieve the advantages of the invention. The material should be absorbent and there should not be excess shrinking when the material is washed. The floor protector could be made of disposable material. The floor protector 100 could be made from a single piece of material or multiple pieces of material sewn or fastened together.
The thickness of the floor protector 100 could be in a range of ⅛, ¼ or {fraction (1/2)} inches. Additional thickness could be available, and the edges of the floor protective 100 could be bound or unbound. The material of the floor protector 100 could be scented for example with baby powder, LYSOL®, a scented cleaner etc. An area of scent 790 is shown in
Another advantage of the present invention is that the size of the hole 270 can be adjusted either larger or smaller. Toilets, more particular, toilet bases are available in many sizes and shapes. It is not practicable but of course not impossible to produce the hole 270 of the floor protector 100 in various sizes to accommodate all sizes of toilets. This would require a large inventory of floor protector 100 each with a differing size hole. With the present invention, varying the size of hole 270 allows a seal or tight fit to be formed with the differing sized bases of toilets. It is advantageous to have a single floor protector 100 (or a limited number) that would fill all of the different sized toilets.
Consequently, it would be desirable to achieve a floor protector 100 that is able to vary the size of hole 270 without replacing the floor protector 100 with one having a different sized hole.
As shown in
One set of dimensions that could be used with the present invention is as follows. Dimension a is approximately 34 inches; dimension b is approximately 24 inches; dimension c is approximately 16 inches; dimension d is approximately 9 inches; dimension e is approximately 10 inches; dimension f is approximately 7 inches; dimension g and h are approximately 7 inches each. These dimensions are for one embodiment. Each dimension could be individually altered without affecting the advantages of the present invention.
The sizes described above are exemplary, and other sizes are consistent with the present invention. Additionally the panels above may be folded upon themselves to reduce the dimensions of the floor protector 100.
If the floor protector 100 is positioned around toilet 110 and the periphery of the panels 210,220,230 240 250 which forms hole 270 does not provide a sufficient seal around the base of toilet 110 such as with the left rear panel 240 abutting the right rear panel 250, then the hole 270 may be reduced in size by utilizing fastener 280 for example by attaching VELCRO® strip 286 with VELCRO® strip 284.
If however, the periphery of panels 210 220, 230, 240, 250 still do not abut the base of toilet 110 then VELCRO® 286 is attached to VELCRO® strip 282 to further reduce the size of hole 270.
It is appreciated that although two VELCRO® strips 282, 284 are shown on the right rear panel in
After the weakened area 610 has been removed, the fastener 280 could be operated as previously described.
The draw string 902 is positioned in channel 904 which is formed around the periphery of the panels 210, 220, 230, 240, 250. The channel is terminated at the cut of panels 240, 250. The channel has an opening 906 for the draw sting 902 to be accessible by the user. As the draw string 902 is pulled, the hole 270 is reduced in size to obtain a seal with the base of the toilet 110.
Claims
1. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet, comprising:
- a first panel to cover said floor and abut a first portion of said toilet;
- a second panel to cover said floor and abut a second portion of said toilet; and
- said first panel and said second panel providing continuous coverage of said floor around said toilet.
2. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 1, wherein said first panel and said second panel form a hole to abut said toilet.
3. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 2, wherein a size of said hole can be changed to abut said toilet.
4. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 3, wherein said size of hole is enlarged.
5. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 4, wherein said first and second panels include a weaken area to enlarge said size of said hole.
6. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 3, wherein said size of said hole is reduced.
7. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 6, wherein said size of said hole is reduced by overlapping said first and said second panel.
8. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 7, wherein said reduced size is maintained by a fastener.
9. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 8, wherein said fastener includes a VELCRO® portion.
10. A device to protect a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 8, wherein said fastener includes a hook.
11. A method of producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet, comprising the steps of:
- forming a first panel to be used to cover said floor and to be used to abut a first portion of said toilet;
- forming a second panel to be used to cover said floor and to be used to abut a second portion of said toilet; and
- said first and second panel being formed to provide continuous coverage of said floor.
12. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 11 wherein said method includes the step of forming a hole to abut said toilet.
13. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 13, wherein said first and second panels are formed so that a size of said hole is adjustable.
14. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 13 wherein said first and second panels are formed so that a size of the hole is enlarged.
15. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 14 wherein the method includes the step of forming a weaken area in said first and second panels.
16. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 13, the method further comprises the set of forming said first and second panel so that said first and second panel overlap to reduce the size the hole.
17. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around the toilet as in claim 11 wherein the method comprises the step of forming a fastener to fasten the fist and second panel.
18. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in 17 wherein the step of forming a fastener includes the step of forming an area of VELCRO®.
19. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 17 wherein the step of forming a fastener includes the step of forming a hook.
20. A method for producing a protector for a floor surface around a toilet as in claim 17 wherein the step of forming a fastener includes the step of forming a button.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 22, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 27, 2005
Inventor: Kimberlee Kohuthek (Farmersville, TX)
Application Number: 10/829,840