TOILET SEAT COVER SYSTEM

Abstract

A disposable toilet seat cover for a child that is portable and easy to use is disclosed. The toilet seat cover provides a user, such as a child, with hygiene protection that often is ignored by children. The toilet seat cover may be formed from one or more layers of a suitable material having lines of separation forming two flaps when the toilet seat cover is in a deployed state for keeping the cover properly positioned and for covering the gap at the front of a standard commercial toilet seat. A plurality of toilet seat covers may be packaged in a toilet seat cover dispenser that may be sized to fit in a pocket or purse and that may accommodate multiple seat covers in a folded and rolled position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/912,748, filed Apr. 19, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to toilet seat covers, and more particularly, the invention relates to toilet seat covers sized for use by children and packaging for multiple toilet seat covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilets are often an unsanitary and can create potentially unsafe conditions for users. Although there are many sanitary toilet seat covers known for preventing direct contact between a person's skin and the toilet seat, none exist that offer sufficient protection, that are easy to use, and that provide users with peace of mind that they are avoiding the unsanitary and potentially unhealthy contact with a toilet seat during use. Children in particular have a difficult time manipulating a toilet seat cover and avoiding contact with the toilet, and are more susceptible to bacterial illness than adults. Because children are less likely to care for personal hygiene and are more susceptible to bacterial illness, there is a need for a toilet seat cover for use by children that is portable, sufficiently easy to position and use and that prevents all contact with the toilet seat and underlying toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a disposable (e.g., flushable) toilet seat cover for a small user, such as a child, that is portable and easy to use. The toilet seat cover may provide a user, such as a child with additional hygiene protection that would otherwise be ignored by the child user and thus addresses the susceptibility of children to bacterial illness. The toilet seat cover may be formed from one or more layers of a suitable material and may have lines of separation, such as perforations or cuts, that form two flaps when the toilet seat cover is in a deployed state for keeping the cover properly positioned and for covering the gap at the front of an open front toilet seat. In some embodiments, the toilet seat cover may have an antimicrobial coating on the bottom side of the toilet scat cover to protect the user from exposure to bacteria that may be present on the toilet bowl and toilet seat. In use, the toilet seat cover may overhang the inner and outer sides of the toilet seat to prevent contact with the underlying toilet bowl and toilet seat. In use, the first flap of the toilet seat cover may hang down the exterior of the front of the toilet bowl while the second flap may extend downward into the toilet bowl. A plurality of toilet seat covers for a child may be packaged in a toilet seat cover dispenser that may be substantially cylindrical in shape and may be sized to fit in a pocket or purse and that accommodates multiple seat covers in a folded and rolled position.

The disposable toilet seat cover may be formed from at least one layer of disposable material having a top, a bottom, a first side, second side, a first end, and a second end. The disposable toilet seat cover may also include first and second lines of separation extending from the first end towards the second end that are positioned to form a first flap that extends downwardly relative to a toilet seat when the cover is in a deployed state, and may include third and fourth lines of separation extending from the second end towards the first end that are positioned to form a second flap that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat and generally opposite to the first flap when the cover is in the deployed state. The layer of disposable material may be shaped to cover only a portion of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state. The first and second sides may extend beyond the edges of the toilet seat and downwardly relative to the toilet seat when the cover is in the deployed state.

The first and second sides may be mateable such that multiple toilet seat covers can be manufactured together in the at least one layer of disposable material without waste material between adjacent first and second sides of adjacent toilet seat covers. In at least one embodiment, the first side may be mateable to the first side and the second side may be mateable to the second side when rotated 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the first and second ends may be linear and generally parallel to each other, and the first and second sides may be mirror images of each other.

The disposable toilet seat cover may be configured to cover only a front portion of a toilet seat. In particular, the disposable toilet seat cover may be configured such that the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 80 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state. In another embodiment, the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 70 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state. In yet another embodiment, the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 60 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

The disposable toilet seat cover may also include a layer of moisture-resistant material adhered to the at least one layer. The disposable toilet seat cover may also include at least one layer of disposable material impregnated with an antibacterial agent. A slip resistant material may also be included on the at least one layer of disposable material for preventing the disposable toilet seat cover from inadvertently being moved when in a deployed state on a toilet seat.

In one embodiment, the disposable toilet seat cover may be contained within a toilet seat cover dispenser. The toilet seat cover system may be substantially cylindrical and sized for easy storage within a purse. The toilet seat cover dispenser may be pliable. The toilet seat cover dispenser may also include a flap for covering an aperture when the toilet seat cover dispenser is not in use.

A method for manufacturing a plurality of disposable toilet seat covers may include providing at least one layer of disposable material having a top, a bottom, a first end and a second end. The method may also include creating lines of separation in the at least one layer of disposable material forming multiple sets of first and second lines of separation extending from the first end towards the second end that are positioned to form a first flap that extends downwardly relative to a toilet seat when the cover is in a deployed state, and multiple sets of third and fourth lines of separation extending from the second end towards the first end that are positioned to form a second flap that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat and generally opposite to the first flap when the cover is in the deployed state. The method may further include creating lines of separation forming the first and second sides of the plurality of disposable toilet seat covers wherein the at least one layer of disposable material may be formed into multiple toilet seat covers that cover only a portion of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state and wherein the sides of adjacent disposable toilet seats are formed without waste between adjacent disposable toilet seats. Creating the lines of separation forming the first and second sides of the plurality of disposable toilet seat covers may include forming lines of separation in the at least one layer of disposable material such that the first and second sides are linear, thereby creating no waste between adjacent toilet seat covers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toilet seat cover as described herein.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a toilet seat cover as described herein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toilet seat cover of FIG. 2 in the deployed state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toilet seat cover dispenser for packaging toilet seat covers. A toilet seat cover is shown partially emerged from the toilet seat cover dispenser.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of two toilet seat covers formed from the same layer of disposable material and that can be separated by tearing the lines of separation between the adjacent toilet seat covers.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative toilet seat cover dispenser for packaging toilet seat covers.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet of toilet seat covers folded for packaging in a toilet seat cover dispenser.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of the toilet seat cover of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, this invention is directed to a toilet seat cover 10 that is configured to prevent a user of a toilet from contacting a toilet seat 65 or the toilet rim during use. The toilet seat cover 10 may be continuous around the front of the toilet seat cover 10 such that a small user, such as a child, may use the toilet without risk of contacting the toilet. The continuous toilet seat cover 10 may be used on closed front toilet seats and on open front toilet seats, such as those commonly referred to as commercial toilet seats. The toilet seat cover 10 may only cover a portion of the toilet seat 65, thereby saving material and eliminating unnecessary waste. The toilet seat cover 10 may also be a component of a toilet seat cover system 11 in which a plurality of toilet seat covers 10 may be formed from a continuous piece of material whereby no waste is formed between adjacent toilet seat covers 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toilet seat cover 10 may be formed from at least one layer of disposable material 20 having a top 25, a bottom 26, a first side 30, second side 35, a first end 40, and a second end 45. The toilet seat cover 10 may be formed from any suitable material that provides a barrier between the user (e.g., a child) and the toilet seat 65. The toilet seat cover 10 may be made of one or more layers of a material that may be soft and may be biodegradable (e.g., paper). In some embodiments, the toilet seat cover 10 may be made from a recycled material (e.g., recycled paper) or other appropriate material. The disposable material 20 may be formed from single or multiple layers, such as a composite or a laminate. The disposable material 20 may be formed from materials, such as, but not limited to, paper; such as creped tissue, uncreped tissue, and nontissue layers; a film, such as an impervious film; and a nonwoven web such as, spunbond, meltblown, spunlace and others.

The toilet seat cover 10 may also include first and second lines of separation 50, 55, such as, but not limited to, complete cuts and perforations, extending from the first end 40 towards the second end 45, and third and fourth lines of separation 70, 75, such as, but not limited to, complete cuts and perforations, extending from the second end 45 towards the first end 40. The first and second ends 40 and 45 may be positioned generally opposite to each other and may be generally linear. The first and second ends 40 and 45 may be generally parallel to each other and may form the edges of a sheet of material. The first and second lines of separation 50, 55 may extend inwardly from the first end 40 to form a first flap 60 that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat 65 when the cover 10 is in a deployed state. Similarly, the third and fourth lines of separation 70, 75 may extend inwardly from the second end 45 to form a second flap 80 that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat 65 when the cover 10 is in the deployed state. The lines of separation 50, 55, 70 and 75 may be created with any appropriate technique such as, but not limited to, splitting or cutting with knives, stamping with dies, laser cutting, water jet, or other hydraulic cutting, thermally assisted cutting, and manual cutting with scissors.

The at least one layer of disposable material 20 may be shaped to cover only a portion of the toilet seat 65, such as less than 100 percent, when said cover 10 is in a deployed state. The toilet seat cover 10 may cover less than the entire toilet seat 65 to reduce waste. In addition, the toilet seat covers 10 may be sized differently to accommodate different sized children. Thus, toilet seat covers 10 with less coverage may be suited for small children than toilet seat covers 10 with larger percentages of coverage of a toilet seat 65. For instance, in one embodiment, the toilet seat cover 10, as shown in FIG. 8, may cover less than a forward 80 percent of the toilet seat 65. In another embodiment, the toilet seat cover 10 may cover less than a forward 70 percent of the toilet seat 65. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the toilet seat cover 10 may cover less than a forward 60 percent of the toilet seat 65. The toilet seat cover 10 may be configured to cover only a portion of a toilet seat 65 that is used by a small user, such as a child. Configuring the toilet seat cover 10 as such enables the amount of material needed to be reduced, thereby reducing the amount of waste generated when the toilet seat cover is disposed. Such a configuration of the toilet seat cover 10 thereby greatly reduces the costs associated with producing the toilet seat cover 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first and second lines of separation 50, 55 and the third and fourth lines of separation 70, 75 are shown intact. The cuts may be die-cut (as shown in FIG. 1) or formed by any other suitable process or method. The ends of the die-cut cuts distal to the points at which each line of separation intersects the first or second ends 40, 45 can be strengthened to prevent tearing. Before deploying and using a toilet seat cover 10 as described herein, the user may tear the first and second lines of separation 50. 55 where they intersect with the first end 40 and may tear the third and fourth lines of separation 70, 75 where they intersect with the second end 45. Tearing the lines of separation in this way results in a first flap 60 and a second flap 80 that each aid in keeping the toilet seat cover 10 properly positioned over the toilet seat 65, as shown in FIG. 3. The first flap 60 may hang down the exterior of the front of the toilet bowl 85 while the second flap 80 may extend down and into the toilet bowl 85. The first and second flaps 60, 80 not only aid in properly positioning the toilet seat cover 10, but they provide a physical barrier between the user and the surfaces of the toilet seat 65 and the toilet bowl 85, as well as a physical barrier between the user and a portion of the interior of the toilet bowl 85.

A toilet seat cover 10 can further include a layer of moisture-resistant material 27, as shown in FIG. 1, adhered to the top 25 or bottom 26 of the at least one layer of disposable material 20. In some embodiments, the at least one layer of disposable material 20 may include an antibacterial agent, such as, but not limited to, a human hygiene biocides, on the toilet seat cover 10. In some embodiments, the toilet seat cover 10 may be impregnated with an antibacterial agent.

The toilet seat cover 10 may also include a slip resistant material 110, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, for preventing the disposable toilet seat cover 10 from inadvertently being moved when in a deployed state on a toilet seat 65. The slip resistant material 110 may cover the entire surface, such as the bottom surface 26, or only portions of the surface. The slip resistant material 100 may be applied to the surface in any appropriate pattern. The slip resistant material 110 may be, but is not limited to being, a releasable adhesive, and a non-tacky coating such as latex or a polymer, silicone, or neoprene. The slip resistant material 110 may also be one or more of the non-adhesive skid resistant coatings disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,911,407, issued Jun. 28, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The dimensions of the toilet seat cover 10 can vary. In one embodiment, the distance between the first and second sides 30, 35 may be between about 17 inches and about 19 inches, and the distance between the first and second ends 40, 45 may be between about nine inches and about 12 inches. For example, the distance between the first and second sides 30, 35 may be about 18 inches, and the distance between the first and second ends 40, 45 may be about 11 inches. The first and second sides 30, 35 may each extend beyond the edges of the toilet seat 65 a distance of between about 1.5 inches and about 2.5 inches. The first flap 60 may be between about two inches and about three inches in length. The second flap 80 may be between about 4 and about 6.5 in length.

The toilet seat cover system 11 may include a plurality of toilet seat covers 10 packaged within a toilet seat cover dispenser 90. The toilet seat cover dispenser 90 may be formed from any appropriate shape. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a toilet seat cover dispenser 90 may have a substantially cylindrical shape and an aperture 95 for removing the disposable toilet seat covers 10 from the toilet seat cover dispenser 90. In another embodiment, the dispenser 90 may have the toilet seat covers 10 packaged in a substantially flat state. The toilet seat covers 10 may be folded and optionally interleaved for pop-up, one-at-a-time dispensing, similar to dispensing of tissue products such as facial tissue or paper towels. The toilet seat cover dispenser 90 may be sized to fit comfortably in a pocket or purse. For example, the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 may have a radius of between about two inches and about three inches, and a height of between about four inches and about six inches. A toilet seat cover dispenser 90 as described herein may have a radius of about 2.5 inches and a height of about 5.75 inches. The toilet seat cover dispenser 90 can further include a flap 100 for covering the aperture 95 when the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 is not in use. Although the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 can be made of any suitable material for packaging a plurality of toilet seat covers 10 as described herein, in some embodiments, the toilet seat cover dispenser is a pliable plastic. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the toilet seat dispenser 90 may be formed from a canister 92 around which the toilet seat covers 10 may be wound. The canister 92 may include a spray mechanism and may include a disinfectant, such as an antimicrobial spray. The canister 92 may be any appropriate size and configuration. The toilet seat covers 10 may be unwound when desired to be removed. Individually packaged rolls of toilet seat covers 10 can be packaged in a larger toilet seat cover dispenser 90 for consumer purchase (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. rolls in one toilet seat cover dispenser). In another embodiment, the toilet seat covers 10 may be packaged into a wall mounted dispenser facilitating use of the toilet seat covers 10 in a stall of a restroom. The wall mounted dispenser may be attached to a wall in a restroom, such as a wall forming a stall, for easy access.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of toilet seat covers 10 may be folded to be packaged in a toilet seat cover dispenser 90 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The plurality of toilet seat covers 10 may be formed from one continuous piece of material, whereby each individual toilet seat cover 10 is separated from an adjacent toilet seat cover 10 by a series of perforations 105. Before being placed into the toilet seat cover dispenser 90, the plurality of toilet seat covers 10 may be folded and rolled into the toilet seat cover dispenser 90. In this folded position, the point at which the first line of separation 50 intersects the first end 40 may be aligned with the point at which the third line of separation 70 intersects the second end 45. Similarly, the point at which the second line of separation 55 intersects the first end 40 aligns with the point at which the fourth line of separation 75 intersects the second end 45. In this folded position, the user need only tear these two points to deploy the toilet seat cover 10.

In use, a user may open the flap 100, as shown in FIG. 4, of the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 containing a rolled plurality of toilet seat covers 10 and may pull an individual toilet seat cover 10 out from the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 through an aperture 95, which may be, but is not limited to, a clear plastic slit in the toilet seat cover dispenser 90. The individual seat cover 10 may be torn off at the fifth perforation 105, which separates the first toilet seat cover 10 from the next toilet seat cover 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 5, each toilet seat cover may be shaped in such a manner that allows for continuous delivery of toilet seat covers 10 from the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 by alternating the position of each toilet seat cover 10 by approximately 180 degrees. The first and second sides 30, 35 may be mateable such that little, if any, waste material exists between the adjacent toilet seat covers 10. In at least one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the first side 30 may be mateable to the first side 30 when rotated 180 degrees, and the second side 35 may be mateable to the second side 35 when rotated 180 degrees. In such a position, the first and second ends 40, 45 of the adjacent toilet seat covers 10 may be generally linear and aligned with each other, respectively. In such a position, the plurality of toilet seat covers 10 may be easily contained in a dispenser 90 and may be formed from a single, continuous piece of material. When an individual toilet seat cover 10 is torn at the fifth perforation 105, each subsequent toilet seat cover 10 is dispensed easily with the angled front edge remaining partially exposed through the dispensing aperture 95.

The flap 100 can include on its inner side a releasable, resealable adhesive (e.g., an adhesive dot) for releasably securing the flap 100 to the toilet seat cover dispenser 90. The flap 100 may be useful for covering the aperture 95 when the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 is not in use, thereby protecting the plurality of toilet seat covers 10 within the toilet seat cover dispenser 90 from contamination or sullying.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated that a toilet seat cover as described herein provides a disposable, portable, and easy means for a user (e.g., a child) to use a toilet without coming into contact with the toilet seat and the toilet bowl. While the above specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not limited by the embodiments illustrated.

Claims

1. A disposable toilet seat cover, comprising:

at least one layer of disposable material having a top, a bottom, a first side, second side, a first end, a second end, first and second lines of separation extending from the first end towards the second end that are positioned to form a first flap that extends downwardly relative to a toilet seat when the cover is in a deployed state, third and fourth lines of separation extending from the second end towards the first end that are positioned to form a second flap that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat and generally opposite to the first flap when the cover is in the deployed state;

wherein the at least one layer of disposable material is shaped to cover only a portion of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state;

wherein the first and second sides extend beyond the edges of the toilet seat and downwardly relative to the toilet seat when the cover is in the deployed state; and

wherein the sides are mateable such that multiple toilet seat covers can be manufactured together in the at least one layer of disposable material without waste material between adjacent first and second sides of adjacent toilet seat covers.

2. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, wherein the first side is mateable to the first side and the second side is mateable to the second side when rotated 180 degrees.

3. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 80 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

4. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 70 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

5. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 60 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

6. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, further comprising a layer of moisture-resistant material adhered to the at least one layer.

7. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material is impregnated with an antibacterial agent.

8. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, further comprising a slip resistant material on the at least one layer of disposable material for preventing the disposable toilet seat cover from inadvertently being moved when in a deployed state on a toilet seat.

9. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends are linear and generally parallel to each other, and the first and second sides are mirror images of each other.

10. The disposable toilet seat cover of claim 9, wherein the first and second sides are linear.

11. A disposable toilet seat cover system, comprising:

a plurality of toilet seat covers, wherein each of the toilet seat covers, comprises; at least one layer of disposable material having a top, a bottom, a first side, second side, a first end, a second end, first and second lines of separation extending from the first end towards the second end that are positioned to form a first flap that extends downwardly relative to a toilet seat when the cover is in a deployed state, third and fourth lines of separation extending from the second end towards the first end that are positioned to form a second flap that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat and generally opposite to the first flap when the cover is in the deployed state; wherein the at least one layer of disposable material is shaped to cover only a portion of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state; wherein the first and second sides extend beyond the edges of the toilet seat and downwardly relative to the toilet seat when the cover is in the deployed state; and wherein the first and second sides are mateable such that multiple toilet seat covers can be manufactured together in the at least one layer of disposable material without waste material between adjacent first and second sides of adjacent toilet seat covers;

wherein the plurality of toilet seat covers are attached to each other; and

a toilet seat cover dispenser that contains the toilet seat covers and is configured for dispensing the toilet seat covers.

12. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, wherein the toilet seat cover dispenser is substantially cylindrical and sized for easy storage within a purse.

13. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 12, wherein the toilet seat cover dispenser is pliable.

14. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 13, wherein the toilet seat cover dispenser further comprises a flap for covering an aperture when the toilet scat cover dispenser is not in use.

15. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 80 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

16. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 70 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

17. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material covers less than a forward 60 percent of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state.

18. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, further comprising a layer of moisture-resistant material adhered to the at least one layer.

19. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, wherein the at least one layer of disposable material is impregnated with an antibacterial agent.

20. The disposable toilet seat cover system of claim 11, further comprising a slip resistant material on the at least one layer of disposable material for preventing the disposable toilet seat cover from inadvertently being moved when in a deployed state on a toilet seat.

21. A method of manufacturing a plurality of disposable toilet seat covers, comprising:

providing at least one layer of disposable material having a top, a bottom, a first end and a second end;

creating lines of separation in the at least one layer of disposable material forming multiple sets of first and second lines of separation extending from the first end towards the second end that are positioned to form a first flap that extends downwardly relative to a toilet seat when the cover is in a deployed state, and multiple sets of third and fourth lines of separation extending from the second end towards the first end that are positioned to form a second flap that extends downwardly relative to the toilet seat and generally opposite to the first flap when the cover is in the deployed state; and

creating lines of separation forming the first and second sides of the plurality of disposable toilet seat covers wherein the at least one layer of disposable material is formed into multiple toilet seat covers that cover only a portion of the toilet seat when said cover is in a deployed state and wherein the sides of adjacent disposable toilet seats are formed without waste between adjacent disposable toilet seats.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein creating the lines of separation forming the first and second sides of the plurality of disposable toilet seat covers comprises forming lines of separation in the at least one layer of disposable material such that the first and second sides are linear, thereby creating no waste between adjacent toilet seat covers.