US2676331A

US2676331A - Toilet seat adapter

Info

Publication number: US2676331A
Application number: US145678A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter A Inman
Original assignee: WAUKEGAN BABY SEAT CO
Current assignee: WAUKEGAN BABY SEAT CO
Priority date: 1950-02-23
Filing date: 1950-02-23
Publication date: 1954-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1971-04-27

Description

pr 27, 1954 w. A. INMAN TOILET SEAT ADAPTER Filed Feb. 23, 1950 Walter A. Inman 5 J4 5 7 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 1 OFFICE TOILET SEAT ADAPTER Walter A. Inman, Waukegan, 111., assignor to Waukegan Baby Seat 00., a corporationv Application February 23, 1950, Serial No. 145,678

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a toilet seat adaptor, and more particularly to an In the past, many and various adaptors, inant toilet seats, and the like, have been provided. In no instance of which I am aware, however, did these formerly known devices permit the use of the ordinary adult toilet seat in substantially the same way and same manner by an infant. Further, most of the infant toilet seats included some means for clamping the infant seat to the porcelain bowl or to the regular toilet seat, or positioned the infant seat on top of the regular toilet seat, so that marring of the regular toilet seat frequently resulted. Furthermore, in most cases the childs seat was elevated above the regular seat thereby giving the child a feeling of being in a very precarious position, resulting in an adverse psychological effect upon the child to the extent that the child did not perform its natural function within a reasonthrough fear of its position or by the creation in the childs mind of a desire to play. Devices of this character heretofore known did not in any instance satisfy the desire of a child to use the same apparatus and use it in the same way as an adult would use it, were not as simple in construction as desired, and were not desirably easy to mount in position on the toilet seat or bowl. 7

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a toilet seat adaptor by means of which a child may utilize the regular adult toilet seat in the same manner as an adult would use the same.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a toilet seat adaptor so constructed that it merely reduces the opening in an adult toilet seat to the size for an infant and is substantial ly unnoticeable to the infant when in use.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toilet seat adaptor which may readily and easily be disposed on top of the toilet bowl and beneath the regular adult toilet seat, without the use of any clamping or other positive engaging means.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a toilet seat adaptor for an infant, which comprises a single piece structure that may easily be laid on top of the toilet bowl, and which is held in position by the regular adult seat, the

lowering of the adult seat anchoring the adaptor in place against accidental dislodgement.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a toilet seat adaptor for an infant designed to rest upon the regular toilet bowl, with an upwardly rising apertured central portion that extends inside the opening in the customary adult seat.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a toilet seat adaptor for an infant, for disposition between the toilet bowl and the customary hinged adult seat, the adaptor being so constructed that it does not cause any variance in position of the adult seat, which when turned down rests upon the bowl in the ordinary manner as though the adaptor were not present.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a toilet seat adaptor for an infant which produces a desirable psychological effect upon the infant, in that with the adaptor the infant is apparently utilizing the customary adult toilet seat in the same manner as an adult would use the same.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an infant toilet seat adaptor which may be made of a single metal stamping or plastic molding, and which is strong and light in weight, and which may be placed in proper position for use by the simple expedient of laying the adaptor upon the toilet bowl, and lowering the customary hinged adult seat thereover.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a toilet seat adaptor for positioning on top of the toilet bowl, and having an upwardly rounded central portion defining an opening, which portion extends into the opening of the customary adult seat, there being drain means provided around the raised portion of the adaptor.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointedout, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary pictorial illustration of a toilet bowl and seat equipped with an adaptor embodying principles of the instant in vention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 1, with the customary toilet seat removed, the hinge supporting parts being shown in section; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the staggered section line lII-III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of this invention is shown in operative association with a toilet assembly including a bowl 1 of porcelain or other suitable material, having a bead or flan e 2 around the top thereof. At the rear thereof, the bowl structure provided with suitable hinge holding uprights 3--t (Fig. 2) which carry a cross hinge pin to which the customary adult toilet seat 5 is pivotally connected as at- The usual toilet seat cover l is also connected to the hinge arrangement as indicated at so that. the cover may be raised and lowered over the toilet seat.

At this point, it should be noted that the instant invention may be left in position for use, and the cover l may be lowered as usual, there being no interference whatever with the normal operation of this cover.

The instant invention is preferablymade in a single piece, which may be a sheet metal stamping, may be molded from a suitable plastic, or made of some other suitable or desirable material. Obviously, it may be given any color desired, and may be given any finish desired.

The device itself, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a plate-like element 9- having a series of groove or channel formations lo therein for the dual purpose of reinforcement and also to provide rests H, as seen in Fig. 3, extending below the plate 9 to seat upon the flange 2 of the toilet bowl. While the plate 9 may have any desirable contour, it is deemed desirable to round the edges as indicated at 2 at various locations in keeping with the contour of the toilet bowl, so as to render it easier to properly position the adaptor. At the rear thereof, the plate 9 is provided' with an extension is for disposition between the hinge posts 3-3 of the toilet assembly, and the edges of this extension are rearwardly convergin as indicated at M SOi as to limit a rearward position of the, adaptor. At the frontthereof, the adaptor may be provided with a suitable aperture it": to facilitate. hanging. it in a handy location when not in use.

In the central region, the adaptor; is provided with an upwardly rounded. annular portion l6 defining anopening ll of asuitable size for an infant. This annular portion designedtc project upwardly'inside the opening it in. the adult toilet seat 5, so that. the. annular portion. to together with the adult toilet seat forms the seat for the infant.

Around the annular seat portion it is a groove or trough 19 provided with a plurality of openings 2%. This, of course, serves as a drain trough in the event the child inadvertently urinates on either the adaptor seat portion is or the adult toilet seat 5.. In such event, the liquid immediately passes through the drain openings 2t into the toilet bowl t.

In use, it is a adult seat 5, if it is not already elevated, and lay the adaptor on the flange 2 of the toilet bowl. This is greatly facilitated by the extension [3 and by the rounded edge portions l2, so that the adaptor may be very quickly placed in position on top of the. toilet bowl. The adult seat 5 is then lowered. over the adaptor, and it will be noted from the showin in Fig. 2 that the adaptor is provided in the forward portion with a pair of notches: El-25 so: thatv the customary simple expedient to raise the Li. rubber bumpers on the adult seat may contact the flange of the toilet bowl in the usual manner. Thus, there is no change whatever in the position of the adult seat. From the showing in Figs. 1 and 3, it will be especially noted that the upwardly extending arcuate seat portion 16 of the adaptor projects into the opening of the adult seat so as to form a o'nilds seat along with the adult seat; Itwill atoncebe noted that there are no clamping means to be utilized, no parts to manipulate, and all that is necessary is merely to lay the adaptor on th flange of the bowl and lower the. adult seat thereover.

With the adaptor in place, it will be noted that to all intents: and" purposes, insofar as the child is concerned; that child is utilizing the adult toilet seat in the same-way an adult utilizes it, and the child is not mounted in an elevated position, in a. seemingly precarious location, but is at the same level as an adult would be. Thus, a very desirable psychological: efiect is produced in the childs and the child s'desires of imitating an adult are thoroughly satisfied. No fear or" its position iscreated in the childs mind, and no desire to play with some apparently different apparatus is ,reated inthe childs mind. The. adaptor, in fact, in many cases will be entirely unnoticeable to the child. in addition, it should be noted that the s ructure of the adaptor is such as to provide a very comfortableseatforthe child.

With the use of the instant. invention, time is in cases of emergency, and no: marring or in, try to the toilet bowl or' the adult seat can ever occur by virtue of the use or" the adaptor. If it is de lrcd to lower. the toilet cover i over the adaptor, that may readily be done.

in addition; it will be especially noted that the adaptoris simple. in construction, highly durable, economical to manufacture, and provides a very pleasing appearance when in use.

It will be understoodthat modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the ent invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a toilet seat adaptor for infants, a like: structure having an opening therein iui free disposition on the flange of a toilet ..owl, and extension at the rear of said structure for position between the hinge supports of the toilet cowl.

2. in a toilet seat adaptor for infants, a 1: like structure having an opening therein an free disposition on the iiange of a toils bowl,

dis

anextension at the rear of said structure for :11;" position between the hinge supports of the toilet bowl, said extension having rearwardly convergthe ing edges to limit the rearward adaptor.

3. in a toilet seat adaptor for infants, like structure having an opening tlie on free disposition on the flange of a to extension at the rear of said structure for position between the hinge supports bowl, and said structure having space-o. no the forward part thereof through wh bumpers of an adult toilet seat may rest 11 bowl flange.

l. In a toilet seat adaptor for infants, line structure for free disposition on a toi and an. upwardly arcuate intermed ate defining a central? opening, said portion e inside the opening of an adult toilet the latter is lowered over the adaptor, said ture having a trough around said intei'niedial disposition of a plateportion with drain openings in the bottom of the trough.

5. In a. toilet seat adaptor for infants, a onepiece plate-like structure for free disposition on a toilet bowl, a central elevated portion defining an opening, said portion being rounded to function as a childs seat and sized to extend upwardly inside the opening of an adult seat, and extension means at the rear of said structure for engagement with the hinge assembly of the toilet bowl to hold the adaptor in position.

6. In a toilet seat adaptor for infants, a platelike structure for free disposition on a toilet bowl, an upwardly arcuate intermediate portion in said structure defining a completely surrounded central opening, said portion extending inside the opening of an adult toilet seat when the latter is lowered over the adaptor, and said structure being notched in the forward part thereof to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 310,210 Liedel Jan. 6, 1885 1,009,838 Handy Nov. 28, 1911 1,111,037 Smith Sept. 22, 1914 1,484,059 Burk Feb. 19, 1924 1,720,129 Kinnard July 9, 1929 1,746,303 Bonin, Jr. Feb. 11, 1930 1,950,016 Zuckerman Mar. 6, 1934 2,221,991 Myers et al. Nov. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 454,432 Germany Jan. 9, 1928