HANDLED CHILD POTTY SEAT

Abstract

A handled potty seat for use with a conventional toiler set that provides a structure for smaller users to sit on the toilet without falling in. The handled potty seat is defined by a potty seat portion shaped in a conventionally but sized to provide a narrowed opening over the toilet, two side handles which extend from opposing sides of the potty seat, and an attachment portion for anchoring the handled potty seat behind and under the back side of the toilet. The attachment portion includes a flexible elbow portion which enables the potty seat to be moved between an up position in which it is perpendicular to a toilet seat in place on a toilet rim and a down position in which it lies flat on the toilet seat.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/994,183 filed May 16, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to toilet attachments and, more particularly, to a child's potty seat which is configured with handles and attaches to a public toilet.

2. Description of the Prior Art

For parents of children who are potty training, the concern that their child may fall in a standard toilet while using it is frequently a major concern. In addition, when in public places, parents are often presented with the undesirable option of having their young child use a toilet whose seats has been soiled from previous use or is otherwise in an unsanitary condition. A problem which still exists, therefore, is that the use of standard toilets by young children can be dangerous and expose the child to filthy conditions. Thus, there remains a need for a handled potty seat which can be placed over a standard toilet seat to form a seat sized for a young child. It would be helpful if such a handled potty seat was portable to enable it to be selectively deployed when needed in a public bathroom. It would be additionally desirable for the handles of such a handled potty seat to provide a place for a child to hold to give a more independent feel.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a handled potty seat apparatus adapted to provide a structure which assists small children in using a standard toilet. The primary aspects in Applicant's handled potty seat are a seat portion, handle portions, and an attachment portion. When in operation, the handled potty seat enables young children to use a standard size toilet without the risk of falling in or off and without having to contact the toilet. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A handled potty seat for use with a conventional toiler set that provides a structure for smaller users to sit on the toilet without falling in. The handled potty seat is defined by a potty seat portion shaped in a conventionally but sized to provide a narrowed opening over the toilet, two side handles which extend from opposing sides of the potty seat, and an attachment portion for anchoring the handled potty seat behind and under the back side of the toilet. The attachment portion includes a flexible elbow portion which enables the potty seat to be moved between an up position in which it is perpendicular to a toilet seat in place on a toilet rim and a down position in which it lies flat on the toilet seat.

It is an object of this invention to provide a handled potty seat which can be placed over a standard toilet seat to form a seat sized for a young child.

It is another object of this invention to provide a handled potty seat which was portable so as to enable it to be selectively deployed when needed in a public bathroom.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a handled potty seat that provides a place for a child to hold to give a more independent feel.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a handled potty seat built in accordance with the present invention in the up position on a toilet seat.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a handled potty seat built in accordance with the present invention in the down position on a toilet seat.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a handled potty seat built in accordance with the present invention in the down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2 a handled potty seat 100 is defined by a potty seat portion 110, two handles 120, and an attachment portion. The potty seat portion 110 is shaped as a conventional toilet seat 130, yet sized more narrowly to enable a child to sit thereon without the risk of falling through. A handle 120 is disposed on each side of the potty seat portion 110. Together, the handles 120 enable a user to grasp the handled potty seat 100 on each side, making it easier to balance while on top of a handled potty seat 100 in place on a toilet seat 130.

The attachment portion, defined by a retaining hook area 131, a flexible elbow portion 132, and a platform ledge 133, enables the handled potty seat 100 to be secured to the toilet seat 130. The retaining hook area 131 is structured to slide behind and under the back side of the toilet seat 130. The flexible elbow portion 132, defined in one embodiment as a hinge, enables the potty seat portion 110 to be moved between an up position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a down position as shown in FIG. 2. It is contemplated that the potty seat portion 110 is placed in the up position to be secured to and removed from the toilet seat 130, and placed in the down position to be used.

The handles 120, along with the platform ledge 133, allow the handled potty seat 100 to rest on the toilet seat 130 once it has been placed thereon. Together, they enable the handled potty seat 100 to distribute weight on the handled potty seat 100 over three distinct points.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A handled potty seat for use on a conventional toilet seat, comprising:

a potty seat portion configured to rest on top of a conventional toilet seat and provide a narrowed opening relative thereto;

an attachment portion integral with said potty seat portion and positioned on said potty seat portion such that it when the handled potty seat is in place on a conventional toilet seat, the attachment portion extends from underneath the conventional toilet seat to above the conventional toilet seat, thereby hooking the handled potty seat to the conventional toilet seat; and

said potty seat portion configured to move to an up position which enables the handled potty seat to be removably secured to a conventional toilet seat and a down position which enables the potty seat portion to be used as a seat.

2. The handled potty seat of claim 1, additionally comprising at least one handle integral with said potty seat portion, thereby providing a place for a user seated on the potty seat portion to grasp.

3. The handled potty seat of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a flexible elbow portion which configures the potty seat portion to move to the up position and down position.

4. The handled potty seat of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes an L shaped retaining hook area which enables the attachment portion to hook from underneath a conventional toilet seat to above the conventional toilet seat.

5. The handled potty seat of claim 4, wherein the attachment portion includes a platform ledge that connects the retaining hook area with the potty seat portion.

6. A handled potty seat for use on a conventional toilet seat, comprising:

a potty seat portion configured to rest on top of a conventional toilet seat and provide a narrowed opening relative thereto;

an attachment portion integral with said potty seat portion and positioned on said potty seat portion such that it when the handled potty seat is in place on a conventional toilet seat, the attachment portion extends from underneath the conventional toilet seat to above the conventional toilet seat, thereby hooking the handled potty seat to the conventional toilet seat;

a handle integral with each side of said potty seat portion, thereby providing two locations for a user seated on the potty seat portion to grasp; and

said potty seat portion configured to move to an up position which enables the handled potty seat to be removably secured to a conventional toilet seat and a down position which enables the potty seat portion to be used as a seat.

7. The handled potty seat of claim 6, wherein the attachment portion includes an L shaped retaining hook area which enables the attachment portion to hook from underneath a conventional toilet seat to above the conventional toilet seat.

8. The handled potty seat of claim 7, wherein the attachment portion includes a platform ledge that connects the retaining hook area with the potty seat portion.

9. The handled potty seat of claim 6, wherein the attachment portion is connected to the potty seat portion through a platform ledge and said handles and said platform ledge enable the handled potty seat to distribute weight on the handled potty seat over three distinct contact points with a conventional toilet seat.

10. The handled potty seat of claim 6, wherein the attachment portion includes a flexible elbow portion which configures the potty seat portion to move to the up position and down position.