US20060053541A1

US20060053541A1 - Teddy's potty gard

Info

Publication number: US20060053541A1
Application number: US10/937,010
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-10
Filing date: 2004-09-10
Publication date: 2006-03-16

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel toilet bowl Teddy's Potty Guard which fits as a cover over the bowl of a standard or non-standard toilet bowl. A removable toilet potty guard comprising: (a) a less than ½ inch thick plastic sheet which is adapted to cover the exterior surfaces of the top of a toilet bowl and which is adapted to cover the external surface of the top of a toilet bowl and which has multiple holes in the plastic bowl cover and (b) attachment means for enabling the plastic bowl cover to lay securely and to releasably attach to the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

Description

REFERENCES CITES



U.S. Patent Documents

6032302	March 2000	Eckert	4/300.
5930847	August 1999	Hall
5067185	November 1991	Kohier
4348776	September 1982	Sarjeant

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel toilet bowl potty guard or decorative potty guard which fits on top of the upper rim of a toilet bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of rodent and reptile entering the home through the toilet bowl from the sewer line has been long standing problem. An ordinary toilet bowl that comes from your standard sewer line can easily be invaded by rodent or reptile that accidentally get caught in the sewer line and as a result, through incidental passage, enters the home. Some of the rodents or reptiles will enter the upstream waterway in the sewer and attempt to exit the sewer line by coming out the toilet bowl. In order to eliminate this problem or to avoid the possibility of sitting on the toilet and being bit by a water moccasin snakes, spiders or other reptiles, a person will be able to see what's in their toilet before they use it. This is a major concern of many people.
Through research, it has been determined that rodents are persistent creatures. Rats can jump three feet straight up, and four feet straight outwards, from a standing position. They can burrow three feet straight down into the ground; chew through building materials, glass, and cinderblock; swim ½ mile in the open water and against current in the sewer line; and climb up inside the pipes with diameters between 1-½ and 4 inches. A rat's teeth are so strong it can bite through aluminum, lead, and other materials. With these facts in minds, a sewer line can easily be invaded by rodents, or reptiles that enter the sewer line.
The following patents disclose devices relating to potty guards of toilets, and other articles.

U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date

6,032,302 Eckert Mar. 7, 2000

5,930,847 Hall Aug. 3, 1999

5,067,185 Kohler Nov. 26, 1991
Koher teaches a toilet bowl protector covering for enclosing conventional bathroom toilets. There is a flexible waterproof sheet which is adapted to cover the exterior surface of a toilet bowl and which has a hole in the central area thereof. The periphery around the hole being adapted to fit about the upper rim of a toilet bowl which is elastic to enhance the fitting. The floor covering covers the floor area of the bathroom. It has attachment means that are a plurality of clips. It has attachment means for enabling the periphery around the hole to be releaseably attached to the upper rim of the toilet bowl. The protector includes a drawstring which is adapted to secure the mid-region of the sheet about the waist of the toilet bowl.
Koher does not contemplate a reusable toilet bowl cover and, further, does not contemplate using the device to provide protection to persons in danger of reptiles entering the home through the sewer line.
The Eckert patent discloses a toilet guard system. Each side segment having a lower edge and upwardly extending trapezoidal shaped component including a plurality on each side in overlapping relationship to form two sets. A horizontal coupling member is positioned on the surface of the toilet bowl with a vertical element in contact with the interior vertical face of a toilet bowl for proper positioning therebetween. The coupling interior vertical face of a toilet bowl for proper positioning therebetween. The coupling member also spaced horizontal ledges positional above and below the toilet for securement purposes. The coupling member and side segment are in generally circular orientation with an opening at the forward region of the toilet for urination there between and opening at the rearward region for receipt of the upper component. A plurality of hinges interconnect the coupling component and the side segment components to allow the upward extension of the shielding components for operation and use and to allow the pivoting downwardly thereof for storage purposes.
Eckert does not teach a toilet bowl protection. Its purpose is to ensure proper urination by young males into the toilet.
Hall teaches a toilet screen assembly situated over a large circular opening of a commode and having a closed orientation for precluding large articles from passing through the opening and open orientation for allowing large articles to pass there through. Also included is at least one actuator assembly for maintaining the screen assembly in the closed orientation when a commode lid is opened and in the open orientation when the commode lid is closed.
Sajeant teaches a collapsible splash guard that is adapted to be mounted in a toilet, which is constructed for movement between an extended operative position when the toilet seat is in a raised position and a collapsed storage position when the seat is in the lowered position. The innermost of the nested segment is connected to the toilet seat in such a manner that when the toilet seat is lifted to the raised position, the innermost segment is lifted upwardly from within the bowl and the nested segments are moved with respect to one another from a nested relationship into an extended overlapping relationship positioned above the toilet bowl and forming an enclosure shieldingly surrounding the back and the side portion of the bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a potty guard which comprises a thick clear plastic bowl cover which is releasably secured around the rim of a conventional toilet bowl. A continuous bowl seal cap is utilized to secure the plastic sheet to the rim of the toilet bowl. The plastic bowl cover acts as a cover over the top of the toilet bowl attached securely to prevent passage of a rodent or reptile. The edges of the plastic bowl cover are plain or clear in color or decorative to suite the decorative needs of the purchaser. The potty guard keeps rodents and reptiles out the home, or from under the rim of the toilet seat. The potty guard is easily detachable so one can use the toilet and easily replace the security device. It is easily washable and easy to handle.
A removable toilet bowl potty guard which comprises in combination a plastic bowl cover, which is adapted to cover the top the toilet bowl rim. The potty guard has holes in the top of the cover to allow passage of air to the sewer line. Attachment means are used to enable the plastic bowl cover on top of the bowl to be releasably attached to the upper rim of the toilet bowl. The potty guard has a handle attached to upper surface of the plastic cover, as to allow for removal before using the toilet.
A potty guard as described wherein the sheet has a decorative border around the exterior circumference of the plastic bowl cover, the decorative border being adapted to find the naked eye of the protective feature. In the potty guard, the periphery around the hole of the sheet can be elasticized to enhance the fitting of the periphery to the upper rim of the toilet bowl. The upper rim attachment means is a continuous bowl seal cap, or hook.
A potty guard as described wherein the potty guard includes a handle which is adapted to secure the mid-region of the plastic bowl holding the unit together for easy removal.
The potty guard can be made of washable plastic material, ¼″-½″ disposable biodegradable plastic or hand flexible washable plastic, such as polyethylene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of the invention in any way:
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the potty guard spread out flat;
FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the potty guard spread out flat; and
FIG. 3 illustrates a isometric view of continuous plastic bowl seal cap used to fasten the potty guard to the toilet bowl rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is an easily used washable, reusable, retainable or disposable accessory for toilet bowls. The invention comprises a ¼-½″ thick clear plastic sheet which is releasably secured around the rim of a toilet bowl and the inside rim of the toilet seat. The invention acts as a protector so that unwanted rodent and reptile can not enter the home by way of the sewer line. The entire cover is easily detachable and is washable for reuse. The invention is intended to provide addition home protection and other public facilities, as well as a decorative touch in the home.
Referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates a top view of the toilet bowl's potty guard 7, it can be seen that the potty guard 1 is constructed of a thick hard plastic bowl cover 2 which can be fitted over the rim of a conventional toilet. The potty guard 7 fits underneath the toilet seat. By fitting under the toilet seat, the potty guard 7 does not prevent the toilet seat from being lifted upwardly about the hinge. The potty guard plastic bowl cover 1 has ⅛″ type hole openings 4 therein and a three(3) inch handle 3 in the center of the plastic bowl cover 1, which can be secured to the potty guard plastic bowl cover I of the toilet bowl. The potty guard has a decorative border 2 that lay adjacently to the outer wall of the toilet bowl. The decorative border 2 can be creped or pleated so as to be changeable and be able to fit various diameters of toilet bowl rims.
The potty guard plastic bowl cover 1 fits on top of the circumference of the exterior rim of the toilet bowl and can be snugly secured in place about the interior walls of the rim of bowl by a flexible bowl seal cap 11. The top region 7, of the potty guard lays on the toilet stool rim area of the toilet bowl.
FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the potty guard 1, spread out to show its construction. The potty guard 1, which can be constructed of a hard, thick plastic, such as polyethylene, washable or disposable, and biodegradable, has a generally circular shape. A oval handle opening 3 is formed in the center. A continuous plastic bowl seal 10 is located on the bottom areas of the potty guard 1. When the potty guard 7 is installed on the toilet, the toilet seat can rest on top of the [potty guard or remain lifted up. FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the bottom of the cover, which shows a continous bowl seal cap 12 which is used to fasten the potty guard rim to the toilet bowl rim and partially inside the toilet bowl. 12 can be formed of resilient plastic that exerts a tight fit which fit snugly to inside edges of a toilet bowl rim.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A removable Teddy's potty guard is to be used with a toilet bowl having an upper rim, a waist portion and a base portion, said potty guard comprising:

(a) a hard clear plastic bowl cover which is adapted to cover the exterior upper rim surfaces of a toilet bowl and which plastic bowl cover has multiple holes in the central area thereof, a portion of the plastic bowl cover around the hole being adapted to fit on top of the upper rim of the toilet bowl;

(b) attachment means for enabling the plastic cover with holes in top to be releasably attached to the upper inside wall of the toilet bowl;

(c) a decorative trim around at least a portion of the exterior circumference of the sheet, the trim being adapted to the plastic surrounding the top of the toilet bowl;

(d) wherein with said plastic bowl cover attached to the rim, said trim will extend completely around the edge of the plastic bowl cover that sits on the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

2. A potty guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastic sheet is ¼″-½″ thick in size, enough to enhance the fitting of the plastic cover to the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

3. A potty guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper rim attachment means is a continuous bowl seal cap which is ⅛ inch thick by immerging ¾-1″ inch deep.

4. A potty guard as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a potty guard includes a handle which is adapted the center mid-region of the plastic bowl cover on the top side.

5. A potty guard as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the ⅛ type holes are scattered throughout the plastic bowl cover.

6. A potty guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the potty guard has a handle in one side, and a releasable fastening means on the bottom side adjoining areas of the plastic bowl cover called the bowl seal cap and releasable fastening means being adapted to fit around the inside edge area of a toilet bowl.

7. A potty guard as claimed in claim 6 wherein the potty guard has fastening means on the back side area adapted to enable the potty guard to be releasably secured around the rear of the toilet bowl.