GB2208122A

GB2208122A - Dispenser for paper toilet seat covers

Info

Publication number: GB2208122A
Application number: GB8725703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ahmet Mustafa Onder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-17
Filing date: 1987-11-03
Publication date: 1989-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-03
Also published as: GB8725703D0; GB2208122B; TR22528A

Abstract

A toilet seat cover (4) for mounting for pivotal movement on a toilet pan (2) between positions in which it lies over the toilet pan and a position in which it is substantially vertical with respect thereto, incorporates a container (7) for dispensing toilet seat covers (11) each connected to the preceding cover and emerging from a slot (9) in turn to pass over the seating surface of the toilet. <IMAGE>

Description

PROTECTED TOILET SEATS This invention relates to toilet seats and more particularly to toilet seats located at publicly available locations.

In general, toilet seats are provided over toilet pans to provide a more comfortable seating position than the upper rim of toilet pan would permit and moreover to provide a seating surface which, being spaced apart from the upper rim of the toilet pan, is less likely to become soiled in use. Indeed it is generally the practice to provide a toilet seat cover hinged at the same position as the toilet seat to keep clean the surface on which people sit when using the toilet in the sitting position.

It is a matter of concern with the many people who utilise toilets in public places such as hospitals, hotels, restaurants etc that when using the toilet in the sitting position they may become infected by harmful germs and soiling which might have been left by the previous user of the toilet. Many people attempt to avoid using toilets in such places and prefer to wait until they reach their own home and even there they may have some concern about using a toilet which is not sanitized before use. If these people are not happy about the possible condition of a toilet, it is usual for them to attempt a temporary cleaning of the upper surface of the toilet seat with available tissue material. Available is similar locations such as airplane toilets are toilet seat covers.These have the approximate shape of a toilet seat with an opening provided therein and are intended to be placed on a toilet seat and sat on by the user. These are not commonly available and are generally unsatisfactory in use in view of their not being fixed in position, generally being taken from a wall dispenser or the like on demand. They make no contribution to the suppression of infectious disease. Whether or not the fears of toilet users are justified, such fears have become exacerbated in recent years as people have thought toilets to be locations at which aids, venereal disease, urinary infections etc, may be caught.

It is an object of this invention to provide protection against possible disease for persons utilising toilets and to prevent persons who may be carriers of such diseases from depositing disease carrying micro-organisms on the upper surface of the toilet seats.

According to the present invention, there is provided a seat member for mounting for pivotable movement on a toilet pan between a position in which it lies over the toilet pan and a position in which it stands approximately vertically with respect to the toilet pan, which seat member includes a container connected thereto for rotation about the same axis as the seat member, is of a width approximating to that of the seat member and is formed with a slot thereacross positioned so as to open out towards the toilet pan, which container contains means for dispensing a sequence of toilet seat cover papers each connected to the preceding cover paper and emerging from the slot in turn to pass over the upper surface of a toilet seat.

The container may be attached to a position on the toilet seat forward of the hinge line thereof, provided that the toilet pan and toilet seat are so dimensioned as to permit displacement of the toilet seat with the housing thereon. Alternatively, and preferably, the container is comprised by a toilet seat cover having the aforesaid container positioned at the rearward part of the upper face thereof.

A paper roll perforated at intervals is provided in the housing. The paper is preferably impregnated with a germicidal solution and either has preformed holes matched to the dimensions of the opening in the toilet seat or retains paper matched to such dimensions but joined to the remainder of the associated section of the paper roll by narrow webs which can easily be broken by the user of the toilet to allow the central part of the paper to drop into the toilet pan on breaking of the webs.

This invention provides means conveniently located on the toilet for provision of toilet seat cover papers which may be placed on the toilet seat with the minimum of handling and will stay in place during use because they remain connected to the remaining pieces on the roll from which they have been supplied. When one's use of the toilet is complete it will be necessary to tear off the used section of toilet seat cover paper and drop it into the pan to be flushed away. This stablisation of positioning of the toilet seat cover paper is of considerabld advantage in allowing a more comfortable seating of the paper on the toilet seat cover in contrast to a previously described toilet seat cover paper which could slide off the toilet seat both before and during use and be a general inconvenience to the user.

For a better understanding of the invention to show how the same can occur with effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toilet arrangement embodying the invention with toilet seat cover in the closed position; Figure 2 is a like view showing the toilet seat cover in the raised position; Figure 3 is a like view to that shown in Figure 2 but showing a toilet seat cover paper withdrawn from its container and then placed over a toilet seat; and Figure 4 is a like view to Figure 3 but with the container for the toilet seat cover paper shown in broken lines to enable its interior to be seen.

Referring to the drawings, a low level toilet comprises cistern 1 and toilet pan 2 of essentially, conventional form. Over the toilet pan is located a toilet seat 3 and a toilet seat cover 4 which are hinged at 5 for rotation about a common axis. Details of the hinge arrangement are not shown in the interests of clarity of presentation. The toilet seat cover 4 is connected to a dispenser container 6 which is in a vertical orientation in Figure 1 but in a horizontal rotation in the remaining Figures as a result of its rotation through 90% on lifting the toilet seat cover 4. The container is of generally rectangular form and has a removable panel, for example, an end panel 7 which allow a paper roll to reintroduce thereinto and mounted on a rotatable member 8.Along the bottom surface of a container 6 is an elongate slot 9 which is not visible when the toilet seat cover 4 is in the down position of Figure 1 but is visible as soon as the toilet seat cover is lifted. Mounted on the rod 8 is a roll 10 of a germicidally impregnated paper (see Figure 4) which will normally protrude from the slot so that it can be pulled over the toilet seat cover as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Here is shown an individual section 11 of the paper already provided with an opening 12 corresponding to that in the toilet seat. At the rear of the paper is a roll of perforations 13 which enable the paper to be torn from the remainder of the roll once it has served its purpose during use of the toilet. A further length of paper can then be pulled over the toilet seat ready for the next user to sit on.

By using a toilet seat protected according to the invention, contamination by germs from one individual is prevented from passing to a subsequent user of the toilet. With use of the arrangement of the invention by all toilet users, it is considered that almost complete protection of toilet users may be achieved.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A seat member for mounting for pivotable movement on a toilet pan between a position in which it lies over the toilet pan and a position in which it stands approximately vertically with respect to the toilet pan, which seat member includes a container connected thereto for rotation about the same axis as the seat member, is of a width approximating to that of the seat member and is formed with a slot thereacross positioned so as to open out towards the toilet pan, which container contains means for dispensing a sequence of toilet seat cover papers each connected to the preceding cover paper and emerging from the slot in turn to pass over the upper surface of a toilet seat.

2. A seat member as claimed in Claim 1, which is a toilet seat cover as which the container is carried for rotation therewith about a horizontal axis and comprises a said slot in a bottom face thereof which is substantially vertical when the seat cover is in a raised condition.

3. A seat member as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each toilet seat cover paper is connected to the preceding cover paper through a zone of predetermined weakness.

4. A seat member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover paper is impregnated with a germicidal solution.

5. A seat member as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.