US3331085A

US3331085A - Auxiliary toilet seat

Info

Publication number: US3331085A
Application number: US343550A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph R Potosky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-02-10
Filing date: 1964-02-10
Publication date: 1967-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-18

Description

Juy 38, w67 J. R. POTOSKY 3,33,085

AUXILIARY TOILET SEAT Filed Feb. lO, 1964 tates atent tice 3,331,085 AUXILIARY TILET SEAT Joseph R. Potosky, 196 Caroline St., Derby, Conn. 06418 Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,55() 6 Claims. (Cl. 4-242) I The well-known wooden or hard plastic toilet seat possesses a number of disadvantages which are wellknown to those in the medical profession. These disadvantages may be broken down into two major categories- (l) the problem of sanitation, particularly in public toilet areas, and (2) the actual creation or aggravation of physical ailments.

With respect to sanitation, infectious diseases may be easily spread through the use of toilet seats in public rest room facilities. This problem has been recognized by the owners of many such facilities who provide paper covers for persons using these seats. However, this practice is far from widespread so that the average traveler is still exposed to many instances of unsanitary toilet seats.

Of possibly even more importance than the problem of sanitation are those created by the shape and hardness of the standard toilet seat. These seats are customarily made of hard Iwood or plastic and are slanted around the inner edge. This slanted portion presents a major problem, particularly when used by patients aiicted by medical problems in the region of the gluteus muscles, the rectum, and the spinal coccyx. Jeep disease, cuts, burns, and infections in this region are ditiicult to heal under the best of conditions. When the standard toilet seat is used, however, the slanted portion of the seat tends to place an extreme amount of pressure on both sides of the gluteal region. This causes the buttocks to be pulled apart, causing pressure to be placed on the rectal area which aggravates existing medical problems in this region and causes patients great distress and discomfort. In addition to these problems the hardness of the standard toilet seat causes particular discomfort to the aged. The discomfort caused to the elderly is often evidenced by deep pressure lines on the buttocks. Physicians often find it necessary to order massage to correct these undesirable complications.

To aid in the healing of rectal disorders, physicians often recommend the use of inflated tubes or rings in order to alleviate the pressure. In many cases, however, these objects not only fail to alleviate the existing problem, but even aggravate the condition. This is because the inner edge of these rings is curved, creating the same type of problem as discussed above with respect to the slanted inner edge of toilet seats.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved auxiliary toilet seat. Other objects are to provide such a seat which is sanitary, soft, easily portable, and is properly shaped to avoid discomfort and aggravation of existing disorders in the posterior region.

The manner in which the above objects are achieved will be more apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the figures of the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a plan view of an auxiliary toilet seat constructed in accordance with this invention, partially cut away to show the internal construction;

FIG 2 is a bottom View of a portion of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the toilet seat of this invention shown in position for use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hinged version of the toilet seat of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the toilet seat of FIG. 5 illustrating the manner in which the seat folds; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 showing the construction of the hinge.

The objects of this invention are achieved by providing a light weight soft auxiliary toilet seat which is sanitary and easily portable.

As is illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the auxiliary seat S of this invention comprises a central stilfening core 10 which may be constructed of any suitably stiff material such as fiber, plastic, metal, or wood. The stiffening core 10 is of generally horseshoe shaped conliguration to provide the basic dimensional stability required for the finished seat. The stiffening core is further characterized by being formed as to include a pair of spaced parallel raised ribs 10a, 10b. A vinyl foam cushion 12 is fitted over the top of the stilfening core 10 and a similar cushion 14 is fitted over the bottom surface of the stiflcening core 10'. The

cushions

12 and 14 are wider than the stiffening core 10 and these cushions are cemented together along their overlapping margins 16 to form a unitary assembly. As a final step in forming the auxiliary seat, the entire assembly is coated with a suitable vinyl or latex lilm 18 which is moisture resistant and provides a smooth and easily cleaned surface.

The purpose of the ribs 10a, 1Gb will now be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein the seat S of the invention is illustrated in position on a standard toilet seat T. The parallel spaced ribs formed on the outer surface of the seat S by the corresponding ribs 10a, 10b of the stiffening core will be seen to rest on either side of the crowned central region of the toilet seat T. They thus serve both to properly position the seat S and to prevent its sliding or slipping from one side to another.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the inner edge 20 of seat S may be constructed with a relatively straight side. This serves to alleviate the problems set forth above which may arise from the use of standard seats having slanted inner edges.

FIGS. .5, 6 and 7 illustrate a folding version of the seat of this invention. This modification is of particular value to travelers. The construction is very similar to that of the seat described above. However, in place of a single stiffening core, a pair of half cores 22, 24 are employed. A separate bottom cushion 26, 28 is fitted against each half core and the two halves are interconnected by means of a single top cushion 30. The seat is coated with a suitable vinyl or latex coating of the type previously disclosed. It will thus be seen that the seat shown in FIGS. 5-7 consists of two stifeued halves S1', S2 joined by a flexible web W which serves as a hinge as shown in FIG. 6r. The portable seat S may thus be easily folded and placed Within a briefcase or suitcase or even wrapped as a separate package. It will be noted that when the seat S is folded, as shown in FIG. 6, it is of such a shape that, when wrapped, no indication is given of the contents. In order to achieve maximum compactness, the foldable seat illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 does not employ the raised ribs described above. However, these could be provided if desired.

The cushions utilized with this invention are preferably fabricated lfrom a closed cell sponge material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, or a foamed polymer such as polyvinylchloride foam. It will also be understood that the seat of the invention may be manufactured by other processes than cutting and cementing the cushions into place. For example, a satisfactory seat may be molded to the desired shape in a curing press or oven, either being molded directly into place over the stifiening core or being cemented in a separate step as described.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a number of variations and modilications may be made in this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An auxiliary toilet seat selectively positionable upon, and removable from, a standard crowned toilet seat comprising: a rigid curved stiffening member; a curved foam cushion covering and substantially enclosing said stilening member; a moisture resistant coating on the outer surface of said cushion; and positioning means engageable on either side of the crowned portion of said standard seat to retain said auxiliary seat thereon.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the inner edge of said curved cushion is substantially perpendicular to its top surface;

3. The seat of claim 1 wherein said stiiened is hinged about a central line in its major plane.

4. The seat of claim 1 wherein said stiffening member includes first and second semi-annular portions, said foam cushion includes tirst and second cushion members enclosing, respectively, said rst and second semi-annular portions, and said seat further includes hinge means interconnecting said rst and second cushion members.

5. An auxiliary toilet seat comprising: a rigid curved stiiening member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface defining spaced parallel ridges extending therefrom; a' curved foam cushion substancushion tially enclosing said stilfening member to form a padded, stilibened curved cushion shaped to substantially cover the upper surface of a standard toilet seat, the lower surface of said cushion and said stiiiening member defining spaced curved parallel ridges arranged to Contact the upper surface of a standard toilet seat, the inner edge of said cushion being substantially perpendicular to its top surface; and a moisture resistant pliable coating on the outer surface of said cushion.

6. An auxiliary toilet seat selectively positionable upon, and removable from, a standard crowned toilet seat, comprising: a rigid curved stiiening member; a curved foam cushion covering said stiffening member; first and second spaced projections, dened by said stiffening member and said foam cushion, extending outwardly from the lower surface of the seat and arranged to be positioned on either side of thecrowned portion of said standard toilet seat; and a moisture resistant coating on the outer surface of said cushion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,871 9/1901 Hogan et al. 1,015,741 1/1912 Parker 4--239 2,706,767 4/ 1955 Packchanian 4-242 X 2,771,612 11/1956` Samuels 4-237 FOREIGN PATENTS 102,398 11/ 1937 Australia. 262,023 12/ 1926 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. I. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN AUXILIARY TOILET SEAT SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE UPON, AND REMOVABLE FROM, A STANDARD CROWNED TOILED SEAT COMPRISING: A RIGID CURVED STIFFENING MEMBER; A CURVED FOAM CUSHION COVERING AND SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSING SAID STIFFENING MEMBER; A MOISTURE RESISTANT COATING ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CUSHION; AND POSITIONING MEANS ENGAGEABLE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CROWNED PORTION OF SAID STANDARD SEAT TO RETAIN SAID AUXILIARY SEAT THEREON.