Patent Application
20210059488
Embodiments described herein generally relate to seat covers, and more particularly to a battery powered portable seat cover.
The need to use the latrine when in public settings is often a highly uncomfortable and unpleasant experience for reasons of accessibility and overall cleanliness. Beyond sanitary concerns, if one has to use an outdoor potty in colder temperatures, there are additional anxieties about warmth while utilizing the bathroom. Hence, it is desirable to provide an improved public restroom.
The various advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawing(s), in which:
Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein describe a battery powered portable seat cover device including a cushion member formed by an integrated top layer and bottom layer. The cushion member including a power source connector element, a level adjustment control element, and a heating element enclosed between the integrated top layer and bottom layer. The power source connector element receives a detachable power source and connects the heating element to the power source. The level adjustment control element controls the temperature of the cushion member, and the heating element includes one or more coils for providing heat to the cushion member. The cushion member is configured to lay atop a seat.
In some exemplary embodiments, the device also includes a battery pack which connects to the power source connector element.
In some exemplary embodiments, the device also includes one or more disposable sleeves which each fit over the cushion member to provide a sanitary cover for the cushion member.
In some exemplary embodiments, the device also includes a carrying case member for transporting and storing the cushion member in a folded position.
In some exemplary embodiments, the detachable power source is the battery pack.
In some exemplary embodiments, the shape of the cushion member accommodates both a round front toilet seat and an elongated extended front toilet seat.
In some exemplary embodiments, the level adjustment control element transitions between different temperature levels for the cushion member.
In some exemplary embodiments, the level adjustment control element is a push button mechanism.
In some exemplary embodiments, the cushion member is foldable and portable.
In some exemplary embodiments, the integrated top layer and bottom layer are made of a washable and waterproof fabric.
In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more coils are attached directly to the bottom layer of the integrated top layer and bottom layer.
The present disclosure relates to a battery powered portable seat cover device (“the device”). The device may be used to provide a warm and comfortable seat cover for porta-potties, public restrooms, toilet seats, chairs, bleachers, tree stands, or any other suitable place where an individual may sit. As shown in
The cushion member 12 is configured to lay atop a seat, such as, for example, a toilet seat. The cushion member may have a shape and size that accommodates all types of seats, including a round front toilet seat and an elongated extended front toilet seat. Moreover, the cushion member is foldable and portable. The integrated top fabric layer and bottom fabric layer which form the cushion member may be made of any washable and waterproof fabric so long as the fabric is thin enough to be compacted (i.e., folded) and transported, while also thick enough to provide comfort to a user without the user feeling the structure of the heating element connected between the two layers.
The power source connector element 16 may receive a detachable power source 20 and may connect the heating element 14 to the power source. The detachable power source may be any suitable power source. In a preferred embodiment, the detachable power source is a battery pack including a cable which connects directly to the power source connector element. The battery pack may be detached from the power source connector element by removing the cable from the connector element 16 and may be reattached to the power source connector element by reinserting the cable into the connector 16.
The level adjustment control element 18 may control the temperature of the cushion member 12 (i.e., the amount of heat provided to the cushion member). More particularly, the level adjustment control element may be connected to the heating element 14 and may control the operation of the heating element 14 which delivers heat to the cushion member 12. The level adjustment control element transitions between different temperature levels for the cushion member, such as, for example, low, medium, and high. The transitions may be effectuated by way of a push button mechanism which transitions from one level to the next each time the button is depressed. Alternatively, the transitions may be effectuated by any other suitable hardware or electronic mechanism.
The heating element 14 may include one or more coils for providing heat to the cushion member 12. The one or more coils are powered by the detachable power source 20 and the one or more coils deliver heat to the cushion according to the control option set by the level adjustment control element 18. The one or more coils may produce low, medium or high heat. The level adjustment control element will set a heat level (i.e., low, medium, high) for the operation of the one or more coils. The one or more coils are enclosed between the integrated top layer and bottom layer. Moreover, the one or more coils may be attached directly to the bottom layer of the integrated top layer and bottom layer.
The one or more disposable sleeves may each fit over the cushion member 12 to provide a sanitary cover for the cushion member 12. When a user is ready to use the device 10, the user may attach a disposable sanitary sleeve to the cushion member and lay the cushion member on top of the seat. The one or more disposable sleeves may include a roll dispenser where the disposable sleeves are wrapped around the roll and a sleeve may be dispensed from the roll by tearing the sleeve along a perforated line. The disposable sleeve may slide over the device, thereby enclosing the entire cushion member within the sleeve. Alternatively, the disposable sleeve may rest atop the device without enclosing the entire cushion member. The disposable sleeve may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, paper or plastic.
The carry case member may provide storage of the cushion member 12. The cushion member is foldable and portable and therefore, the cushion member may be folded and inserted into the carrying case for ease of transporting. The carrying case may be compact for ease of storing the carrying case in a variety of objects, such as, for example, a purse, a toolbox, a lunchbox, a glove box, a back pocket, a coat pocket, etc. The carrying case may be made out of any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic.
It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.)
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.
