1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to toilet covers and, more particularly, to a sanitary device for covering a toilet seat and at least the front and side portions of a toilet bowl, effectively eliminating all bodily contact with the surface areas of the toilet seat and toilet bowl.
2. Background of the Invention
Public toilets are a haven for germs and bacteria. Among the germs sometimes found in public restrooms, are streptococcus, staphylococcus, and E. coli bacteria, hepatitis A virus, the common cold virus, and even various sexually transmitted organisms. Using public toilets is especially problematic for small children, who often grasp the sides of the toilet to lift themselves onto the seat or rest their hands on the toilet seat and bowl for balance. These facts makes most mothers cringe when they are away from home and hear their child say “Mommy, I need to potty.” Also, unlike adults, children's legs often rest on the front or side surfaces of the toilet bowl when they are seated on the toilet, further increasing their contact with germs and bacteria.
Current toilet covers are limited in that they do not provide sufficient coverage to prevent bodily contact with potentially germ-infected surface areas of a toilet—particularly, the toilet seat and toilet bowl. Indeed, the typical toilet cover is designed to cover only the toilet seat and even that coverage is insufficient in that the cover is usually made of a thin paper material that does not fit the toilet seat securely.
Paper covers, which are cut in the shape of a standard toilet seat, tend to slide across or even off the toilet seat when someone attempts to sit on the toilet. They also tear easily and do not provide an effective barrier against wetness or other matter that may have splashed or fallen onto the toilet seat and toilet bowl.
Even existing toilet seat covers that protect against wetness, fail to protect against wetness and germs that may be found on the outer surface of the toilet bowl.
There exists, therefore, a need for a disposable toilet cover that fits both a toilet seat and toilet bowl securely; that effectively protects against bodily contact with potentially germ-infected surfaces of the toilet seat and toilet bowl; and that is specifically suitable for use by small children.
The invention embodied and broadly described herein is a protective covering that fits both a toilet seat and toilet bowl securely, and that protects against bodily contact with potentially germ-infected surface areas of the toilet seat and toilet bowl.
According to one aspect of the invention, a continuous covering, sized to substantially cover both the toilet seat and the front and side surface areas of the toilet bowl, is secured about the rear of the toilet seat and extends about the base of the toilet bowl—along the front, left, and right sides of the bowl. In one embodiment, the covering is secured to the toilet seat and the toilet bowl using a securing element, such as elastic, affixed about the outer periphery of the covering. However, it is contemplated that a variety of different securing elements may be used. The toilet seat and toilet bowl covering also includes an opening that aligns atop the opening in a toilet seat, when the covering is secured to the toilet seat and the toilet bowl. In an exemplary embodiment, the covering is made of a durable material that provides a protective barrier against wetness and is adaptable to be secured about toilet seats and toilet bowls of varying sizes.
To enable a further understanding of the objectives of this invention, a brief description of the drawings is provided below, followed by a detailed description of various embodiments. It is to be understood that both the foregoing and the following descriptions are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the claimed invention in any manner whatsoever.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, exemplify certain aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain some of the principles associated with the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The disposable protective toilet seat and toilet bowl cover shown in
The covering 10 depicted in
As illustrated in
When the covering 10 is properly secured to the toilet seat and toilet bowl, the opening 20 in the covering 10 aligns atop the opening in the toilet seat. As illustrated in
It is contemplated that the toilet seat and toilet bowl cover of this invention may be manufactured in a variety of different dimensions to accommodate toilet seats and toilet bowls of varying sizes.
The present invention has been described in relation to particular examples, which are intended in all aspects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from the essential scope or spirit thereof.
Moreover, other implementations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the examples be considered as exemplary only. To this end, it is to be understood that inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed implementation. Thus, the true scope and spirit of the invention is indicated by the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5557809 | Adams | Sep 1996 | A |
7216372 | Escortell et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
8196228 | Gyurjyan | Jun 2012 | B1 |