Folding Disposable Potty Seat

Abstract

An application for a foldable potty seat includes a planar base portion being of a shape and shape similar to a typical toilet seat and having a portal. The foldable potty seat has two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion with at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings and two folding score lines transecting the planar base portion from one side to the other side. The folding score lines enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation and the folding score lines not transecting the portal. The wings tuck under the typical toilet seat and are held in place by standoffs that separate the typical toilet seat from the toilet bowl.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/243,646, filed Oct. 1, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. D617895, issued Jun. 15, 2010.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of disposable portable potty seats for children and more particularly to a disposable portable potty seat for a child of either sex that positions over any existing toilet seat.

BACKGROUND

Children are often trained to use a toilet at a very young age, usually between one year and three years of age. Often, a child of such an age has a small buttock that does not match the opening on most toilet seats at home and away from home, especially while traveling.

At home, often, the child has a small potty seat designed for the child's size or an adapter seat covering the adult toilet. These aides are often not available when traveling or visiting friends and relatives. These devices provide a smaller opening to comfort the child's apprehension about falling through the opening in the adult toilet seat. Such devices are generally rigid and provide a transportation challenge, especially when traveling by airline. They generally do not fit in the typical carry on luggage, though they are often needed during flight.

What is needed is a child's potty seat that is portable, disposable and supports the child while sitting on a toilet

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a foldable potty seat is disclosed that includes a planar base portion. The planar base portion has a portal through which the child urinates or defecates. There is at least one folding score line in the planar base portion. The folding score line enables folding of the planar base portion for transportation.

In another embodiment, a method of transporting a folding potty seat is disclosed including providing a folding potty seat that has a planar base portion. The planar base portion has a portal and two wings that extend outwardly from sides of the planar base portion and have at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings. There are two folding score lines in the planar base portion. The folding score lines enable folding of the planar base portion for transportation. The method includes placing the planar base portion over the toilet seat and folding the wings of the planar base portion around the toilet seat and under the standoffs then seating a child on the planar base portion.

In another embodiment, a foldable potty seat is disclosed that includes a planar base portion being of a shape similar to a typical toilet seat and having a portal. The foldable potty seat also has two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion with at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings and two folding score lines transecting the planar base portion from one side to the other side. The folding score lines enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation and the folding score lines not transecting the portal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the folding potty seat.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a toilet and toilet seat of the prior art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a toilet and toilet seat of the prior art.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the folding potty seat installed over a toilet.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the folding potty seat installed over a toilet.

FIG. 6 illustrates plan views of the folding potty seat as it is being folded.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the folding potty seat in the folded configuration along cut lines 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a top plan view of the folding potty seat 10 is shown. The folding potty seat 10 has a planar base portion 12 that is sized to cover some or all of the typical toilet seat 60 (see FIG. 3). Although it is preferred that the base portion 12 substantially cover the typical toilet seat 60, there are many sizes of toilet seats 60 and, in some situations, the base portion 12 covers more or less of the typical toilet seat 60 and is of any shape such as oval, round, rounded, rectangular, octagonal, etc. In some embodiments, the edges and, in particular, the front edge of the base portion 12 is cushioned for added comfort (not shown). For example, a sheet of paper is wrapped over the front edge of the base portion 12 to eliminate or reduce sharp edges.

The base portion 12 has a portal 26 through which the child defecates. It is desired, though not required, that the portal 26 is smaller than the opening 66 (see FIG. 3) of the typical toiled seat 60 to better support the child and reduce fear of falling into the toilet 50 (see FIG. 3). When the portal 26 is smaller than the opening 66, the base portion 12 both provides comfort to the child while also shielding the child from anything left behind from previous user of the toilet seat 60 (e.g. fecal matter, germs, virus, urine). In some embodiments, the edges and, in particular, the back edge of the portal 26 is cushioned for added comfort (not shown). For example, a sheet of paper is wrapped over the back edge of the portal 26 to eliminate or reduce sharp edges.

As will be shown in FIG. 4, wings 20 extend outward from the base portion 12 and one or more wing score lines 22 transect the wings 20 (e.g. substantially straight score line at or parallel to the intersection of the wings 20 and the base portion 12). As will be shown in FIG. 4, the wing score lines 22 form fold lines enabling folding of the wings 20 around the toilet seat 60 so that the standoffs 61 (see FIG. 4) press down on the wings 20, holding the folding potty seat 10 in place and stiffening the base portion 12 to provide additional support and structure while the child sits on folding potty seat 10.

Folding score lines 14/16 are provided for folding the folding potty seat 10 for distribution, transporting, etc. The folding operation is shown in FIG. 6. It is preferred that the score lines 14/16 do not intersect the portal 26 because this will reduce structural strength of the folding potty seat 10.

All score lines 14/16/22 are made in the folding potty seat 10 as known in the industry. The score lines 14/16/22 are substantially straight to enabling folding without distorting the shape or reducing the structure of the folding potty seat 10.

Preferably, the folding potty seat 10 is made from a cardboard stock that is coated with a water shield to prevent the cardboard stock from absorbing liquids and degrading when exposed to the liquids such as urine. In some embodiments, both sides of the cardboard stock are coated with the water shield while in other embodiments, only one side of the cardboard stock are coated with the water shield (the side contacting the child). Although it is anticipated that the folding potty seat 10 is made from any suitable material, cardboard is preferred due to many inherent properties of cardboard including, but not limited to, stiffness, low cost and disposability. When the folding potty seat 10 is made of cardboard, it is preferred, though not required, that the cardboard be corrugated cardboard to provide added strength while reducing weight. When the folding potty seat 10 is made of corrugated cardboard, it is preferred, though not required, that the corrugations run across the folding potty seat 10 (e.g. parallel to the folding score lines 14/16) to provide increased support strength.

It is anticipated that in some embodiments the folding potty seat 10 be the natural color of the material it is made from while in other embodiments the folding potty seat 10 is painted, dyed, silkscreened, etc, to provide an appealing color, pattern, design, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a side and top view of a toilet 50 and toilet seat 60 of the prior art is shown. Although there are many shapes and sizes of existing toilets 50 and toilet seats 60, the folding potty seat 10 adapts well to a large majority of such. Typical toilets 50 have a tank 54 for holding water for flushing, though many public toilets 50 do not have such a tank 54. The toilet seat is often interfaced to the bowl 52 of the toilet 50 by a hinge 64 that enables lifting of the seat 60. Beneath the seat 60 located in a bottom, frontward surface of the seat 60 are typically two standoffs 62. The standoffs 62 hold the seat 60 away from the bowl 52, for example, to prevent pinching of a user's skin between the seat 60 and the bowl 52. The standoffs 62 support much of the user's weight.

As shown in FIG. 3, the portal 66 of the toilet seat 60 is typically very large, often too large for the typical child, therefore requiring the child support themselves by placing their hands on the exterior edges of the toilet seat 60 and pushing. While this is not desirable at home, it is even less desirable in public facilities.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a front view and top view of the folding potty seat 10 installed over a toilet seat 60 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the portal 26 of the folding potty seat 10 is preferably smaller (e.g. diameter) than the typical opening 66 of many toilet seats 60, thereby providing support to the user (child) and eliminating fear of falling onto the toilet 50. Although it anticipated that the folding potty seat 10 is sturdy enough to support the weight of a typical child, the wings 20 fold around the toilet seat 60 and are positioned beneath the standoffs 62. The weight of the toilet seat 60 and the child push down on the standoff 62 and the wings 20 are sandwiched between the standoff 62 and the bowl 52, thereby holding the wings 20 tightly in place while the child sits.

Referring to FIG. 6, plan views of the folding potty seat 10 as it is being folded are shown. The folding potty seat 10 is folded along the folding score lines 14/16 and one of the wing score lines 22. Although not required, the folding score lines 14/16 and one of the wing score lines 22 provide a clean fold along which the folding potty seat 10 is folded to make the folding potty seat 10 more portable for transporting during, for example, traveling, picnicking, visiting friends, etc. It is anticipated, though not required, that the folding potty seat 10 be delivered to the customer in folded form as in the last sequence of FIG. 6 and unfolded by the customer for use.

Referring to FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the folding potty seat 10 in the folded configuration along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6 is shown. Note that in this configuration, the folding potty seat 10 is small enough to fit in a carrying case such as a diaper bag, etc.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Claims

1. A foldable potty seat comprising:

a planar base portion, the planar base portion size to fit over a toilet seat and the planar base portion having a portal; and

at least one folding score line in the planar base portion, the folding score line enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation.

2. The foldable potty seat of claim 1, further comprising two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion at a location close to standoffs of the toilet seat.

3. The foldable potty seat of claim 2, further comprising at least one wing score transecting each of the wings.

4. The foldable potty seat of claim 1, wherein the foldable potty is made from cardboard stock.

5. The foldable potty seat of claim 4, wherein the cardboard stock is corrugated cardboard.

6. The foldable potty seat of claim 4, wherein a face of the cardboard stock is coated with a water resistant material.

7. The foldable potty seat of claim 4, wherein a back surface of the cardboard stock is coated with a water resistant material.

8. The foldable potty seat of claim 1, wherein the base portion is in the shape of a typical toilet seat.

9. A method of using a folding potty seat, the method comprising:

providing a folding potty seat comprising: a planar base portion, the planar base portion sized to fit over a toilet seat, the planar base portion having a portal, the toilet seat being separated from a toilet bowl by standoffs; two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion with at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings; and two folding score lines in the planar base portion, the folding score lines enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation;

placing the planar base portion over the toilet seat;

folding the wings of the planar base portion around the toilet seat and under the standoffs; and

seating a child on the planar base portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the foldable potty is made from cardboard stock.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cardboard stock is corrugated cardboard.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a face of the cardboard stock is coated with a water resistant material.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a back surface of the cardboard stock is coated with a water resistant material.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the base portion is in the shape of a typical toilet seat.

15. A foldable potty seat comprising:

a planar base portion, the planar base portion being of a shape and size to fit over a typical toilet seat and the planar base having a portal, the typical toilet seat being supported above the toilet bowl by standoffs;

two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion, the wings located to match a location of the standoffs and at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings; and

two folding score lines transecting the planar base portion from one side to the other side, the folding score lines enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation and the folding score lines not transecting the portal.

16. The foldable potty seat of claim 15, wherein the foldable potty is made from cardboard stock.

17. The foldable potty seat of claim 16, wherein the cardboard stock is corrugated cardboard.

18. The foldable potty seat of claim 17, wherein corrugations of the corrugated cardboard run parallel to the folding score lines.

19. The foldable potty seat of claim 16, wherein a face of the cardboard stock is coated with a water resistant material.

20. The foldable potty seat of claim 16, wherein a back surface of the cardboard stock is coated with a water resistant material.