GB2272709A - Disposable toilet seat cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A napkin that covers a WC seat which, when placed on the upper most surface of a WC seat, when in the horizontal position, will cover the WC seat. The napkin has facility to protect users from directly touching, with their skin etc, either the WC seat or WC pan when their body, or parts thereof, are exposed. The size of the napkin is such that protection for thighs, bottom and lower back is provided by a combination of design elements and size. A unique tear out panel is provided in the centre of the napkin which can be detached and placed in the WC pan prior to use. Additional unique features are drop-down panels which protect protection against touching the top internal rim of the WC pan. The materials used to construct the napkin may exhibit a number of important characteristics which will enhance sanitary, comfort and aesthetic aspects of toilet use. The combinations of material and napkin design will ensure that there is sufficient flexibility to meet all types of demand. Given the nature of the napkin it can be retailed in a variety of manners, such as dispensed from sheets, rolls and proprietry dispensers etc. <IMAGE>

Description

Disposable Hygienic Interface Napkin (DHIN) This invention relates to a disposable hygiene napkin that can be placed on WC seats.

(Toilet is used in the wider context in this application to mean the cubicle, room, building, area or facility where the primary purpose is to use a fixture [normally a WC pan] into which urine and faeces are discharged for disposal. The term toilet, in this application is also synonymous with the terms: lavatory and slang terms such as bog).

Hygiene is generally defined as the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease.

The transmission of: i) infectious (by air and water); and ii) contagious (direct contact) diseases; and the occasions, conditions and mechanisms by which the movement of bacterial and viral micro-organisms, from the environment to people or between people (and animals etc.), occurs is not fully understood. However, the environment and circumstances relating to toilet hygiene (environmental and human practices) may increase the risk (defined as a measure of probability and consequence) of contracting disease (defined as an unhealthy condition) due to the relatively higher levels of microbial activity (e.g. Escherichia coli) associated with toilets.Consequently, the primary function of the Disposable Hygienic Interface Napkin (figure 1) is to minimise the risk of people importing disease while using toilets, and in particular when in physical contact with WC seats or the internal surface of the WC pan (figure 2), and to increase the comfort and confidence of the user.

According to the present invention: 1. It is intended that a Disposable Hygiene Interface Napkin (figure 1) is placed directly on the uppermost surface of a WC seat when the seat is in the horizontal position (figure 3).

The design of the DHIN is such that it will mould into the contours of the WC seat reasonably well and will remain relatively secure once correctly fitted in position.

2. The DHIN should maintain a dry upper surface even when there are residual fluids, e.g.

urine on the seat.

3. The DHIN will cover all the exposed upper surface of the seat and will extend beyond the outer perimeter of the WC seat to: a) ensure adequate coverage of the WC seat including; i) thigh protection at the front; ii) lower back protection at the rear; and b) enable the user to remove the DHIN without having to grip any "contaminated" areas.

4. The DHIN will have a centre "tear out" section in the centre which can be placed in the pan itself and is intended to minimise upward splashes, minimise infection, and to cover any submerged excreta and paper, for aesthetic reasons.

5. The DHIN will also have drop-down panels which remain attached at strategic points on the DHIN and will: a) minimise penile contact with the front internal surface of the pan; b) help to locate and retain the DHIN in the correct position.

6. The use of a DHIN will help prevent "soiling" of WC seats ( especially important for subsequent users who may not wish to use a DHIN) by: a) acting as a barrier to prevent urine collecting of the WC seat itself; and b) and similarly from stopping excreta from being deposited on the WC seat either during normal use or from "used" toilet paper falling onto the WC seat while being discharged into the WC pan.

7. The material itself exhibit one or a combination of the following characteristics: a) be treated with a disinfectant and/or antiseptic formulation to provide a sanitised surface; b) be inert; c) not leave fluff or fibre during normal use; d) have an appropriate tensile strength taking into account: i) the need to tear a DHIN from a roll or sheet; and/or ii) the need for retain intact while people are positioning themselves on the WC seat; and/or e) exhibit some thermal retention to add to the comfort of the user; f) help mask malodours resulting from use of the toilet; g) be coloured or natural; h) not cause any perceivable deterioration of the materials normally used in toilets; i) ensure that it is free from unpleasant odour when wet or dry; j) be marked legibly and durably with sufficient information in appropriate languages, and/or the packaging may be suitably marked; k) ensure that the colour of the flush following discharge into the pan is of an acceptable appearance; 1) be non-injurious to the skin and mucous membranes; m) be biodegradable; n) be flushable; o) have attachments, such as a chemically treated wipe to cleanse hands etc. after using toilet facilities.

8. The finished product retail in a variety of systems, styles, modes, such as: a) be dispensed from a machine which delivers a single DHIN; and/or b) be dispensed from rolls or sheets; and/or c) be packaged for retail; and/or d) be available as a package with toiletry (such as hygienic hand-wipes) or other goods in a) to c) above, inclusive.

9. The DHM may have elasticated type sides to provide tight fit around the WC sear.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a typical Disposable Hygienic Interface Napkin Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of a typical DHIN located on a WC seat Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a DHIN on a WC seat with Panels dropped inside the pan and the "tear away" section laying in the pan on the water. The thigh and back protectors are also shown.

Referring to Figure 1 a rectangular DHIN is shown, although the final shape, style, pattern and dimensions may vary according to the shape, style, pattern and dimensions of the WC seat and pan. Thickness is not shown as this may also vary according to the treatment and strengthening of the material.

On receipt of the DHIN the user will remove the hatched section shown in figure 1. The perimeter of the Panel is likely to be serrated to allow easy detachment. The lines marked in square section in the intended opening will be cut to allow other Panels to drop, or physically bent, into the inside of the pan. At strategic positions around the perimeter of the pan opening there will be small cuts which will be perpendicular to the edge of the perimeter opening. This is to allow better fit of the DHIN to the contour of the seat.

The triangular areas at the front of the DHIN will hang down the front external surface of the WC pan to provide protection and comfort against cold surfaces. Similarly, sufficient material will be provided to extend the DHIN up the back of the cistern or rear of the WC pan to protect against clod and increase user comfort.

Figure 2 shows a typical DHIN in position and illustrates typical opening geometry on a typical British Standard WC seat. This also illustrates the available material to provide thigh and lower back protection.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a typical DHIN in position on a typical British Standard WC pan. The "tear out" section is shown as removed from the DHIN and laying in the WC pan, normally on the water surface. Panels are shown in the dropped position inside the WC pan. It can be seen that the Panels provide security to retain the DHIN in position.

The user on receipt of the DHIN will remove the central Panel (see figure 1) and place it down the WC pan (see figure 3) and then locate the DHIN on the WC seat (see figure 2).

The remaining Panels will have dropped naturally inside the WC pan, as shown in 3, or they will have to be physically bent into position. The user will then sit on the DHIN.

Claims (3)

1A DHIN will cover the exposed surface of WC seats (when in the horizontal position) and adjacent areas of the WC pan, including cistern, to minimise the potential for direct contact between the flesh of a 'user' and the WC seat, WC pan and cistern. The DHIN has a opening strategically placed to allow urine and excreta to be passed through the DHIN while the 'user' is either sitting or standing. The DHIN will be sized to minimise the potential for the 'user' gripping any contaminated, before, during or after use.

2. A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the DHIN has a removal section which can be dropped into a WC pan to reduce splashes and cover excreta and toilet paper, alternatively the Panel can be discarded.

3. A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the DHIN will have drop-down panels which remain attached at strategic points on the DHIN and will: a) minimise penile contact with the front internal surface of the pan; b) help to locate and retain the DHIN in the correct position.

4 A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the material will minimise or prevent unacceptable migration of fluids such as urine and excreta through the material.

5 A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the material itself may exhibit one or a combination of the following characteristics: a) be treated with a disinfectant and/or antiseptic formulation to provide a sanitised surface; b) be inert; c) not leave fluff or fibre during normal use; d) have an appropriate tensile strength taking into account: i) the need to tear a DHIN from a roll or sheet; and/or ii) the need for retain intact while people are positioning themselves on the WC seat; and/or e) exhibit some thermal retention to add to the comfort of the user; f) help mask malodours resulting from use of the toilet; g) be coloured or natural; h) not cause any perceivable deterioration of the materials normally used in toilets; i) ensure that it is free from unpleasant odour when wet or dry; j) be marked legibly and durably with sufficient information in appropriate languages, and/or the packaging may be suitably marked; k) ensure that the colour of the flush following discharge into the pan is of an acceptable appearance; 1) be non-injurious to the skin and mucous membranes; m) be biodegradable; n) be flushable; o) have attachments, such as a chemically treated wipe to cleanse hands etc. after using toilet facilities.

6 A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the finished product may: a) be dispensed from a machine which delivers a single DHIN; and/or b) be dispensed from rolls or sheets; and/or c) be packaged for retail; and/or d) be available as a package with toiletry (such as hygienic hand-wipes) or other goods in a) to c) above, inclusive.

7 A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the use of a DHIN will help prevent "soiling" of WC seats (especially important for subsequent users who may not wish to use a DHIN) by: a) acting as a barrier to prevent urine collecting of the WC seat itself; and b) and similarly from stopping excreta from being deposited on the WC seat either during normal use or from "used" toilet paper falling onto the WC seat while being discharged into the WC pan.

8 A DHIN as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the DHIN may have elasticated sides to provide a tight fit to the WC seat.