US2676332A

US2676332A - Toilet seat adapter for infants

Info

Publication number: US2676332A
Application number: US174286A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter A Inman
Original assignee: WAUKEGAN BABY SEAT CO
Current assignee: WAUKEGAN BABY SEAT CO
Priority date: 1950-07-17
Filing date: 1950-07-17
Publication date: 1954-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1971-04-27

Description

W. A. INMAN TOILET SEAT ADAPTER FOR INFANTS April 27, 1954 Filed July 17, 1950 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT.

Walter A. Inman; Waukegan Baby" corporation of Illinois Application July 17, 1950, Serial NolllLZS'G 1-. Claim.v (Cl; 4-239l This invention relates to improvements in a toilet seat adaptor for infants, the invention being highly desirable for association with the ordinary adult toilet bowl and seat to render the adult seat readily usable by an infant, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The instant invention is an improvement upon the toilet seat adaptor set forth, described and claimed in my copending application for patent, filed February 23,1950, Serial No. 145,678.

Heretofore, insofar as I am aware, infant toilet seats, and toilet seat adaptors for infants, have been made either with a back and sometimes side armspermanently attached to the adaptor seat, or'without any-back whatever. It frequently happens that it is desirable to provide a back with holding means for a very young child, and such back is not needed or desired after the child reaches an age of stability but before the child cando' without anadaptor. At thesame time no previous toilet seat of which I am aware could provide an adaptor equipped with a back capable of giving the desired psychological efi'ect of leadingthe-child to believe it is using the same apparatus and in the same way as any adult would use it.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a toilet seat adaptor for infants having a selectively removable back, whereby the back may be removed at any time desired, and the adaptor thereafter utilized Without the back as the infant continues to grow.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toilet'seat adapter for infants constructed for disposition on a toilet bowl beneath the customary adult seat pivotally connected to the bowl, the adaptor being providedwith a back sized to project through the opening in the adult seat and permit the raising and lowering of the adult seat while the adaptor equipped with the back remains in position on the rim of the bowl.

A. further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a toilet seat adaptor for infants in the general formation of a plate-like structure having a raised central portion designed to project upwardly through the opening in an adult toilet seat when the adaptor is disposed therebeneath, the adaptor having a ourvate back removablyconnected thereto around the rear of the elevated portion, both the back and elevated portion entering the opening in the'adult toiletseat.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a toilet seat adaptor for infants,

Waukegan, 111., assignor to Seat 00., Waukegan, IlL, a

H equipped with-aremovableback;whleh pack may beremoved"and discarded anytime desired, witli+ out detracting from: the 'apperance of the re-' mainder of" the adaptor, which "is thereupon usable as'long as desiredwithout the back.

It'is also afeatu're of this." invention to provide, a toilet seat adaptor for infants eq-uipped with a removablebackand positionableonthe standard bathroom toilet bowl" without tlieneed' "of any securing'meanswhatever; no parts-Qf the device being capable of'marringeit "er the toilet bowl or the adult seat pivoted thereto:

Still a further-feature'of theinvention'resides in the provision ofa toilet seat adaptor embodying a plate-like structure having a central elevated portion to project upwardly'through the opening in an adult toilet seat, when'the' devicejis, disposed therebelow, the plate-like structure also being provided with an upwardly projectingback disposed around the rear-part of the elevated' portion to also project through 'theopening inan adult toilet seat, so thatthegeneraloverall'appearance with theadult toilet seat lowered isthat the back of the adaptor is "in effect a portion cf-"t'he adult toilet seat, while the elevated portionof the adaptor cooperates with theadultitoilet seatto provide a seat-for'achildi While some of the moresalientfeatures; characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been abovepoint'edout, 0thers-wili'become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying; drawing, in which- Figure 1 is 'afragmentary topplan 'view of a standard or usualtoilet bowl and seat equipped with an adaptor-embodying-principles of-th'e-instant invention;

- Figure 2 is a bottom plan view' of'the adaptor alone; and

Figure 3 is an: enlarged fragmentary "vertical sectional view taken; substantiallyas indicated by the line III-III' of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

As shown on "the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment-of the instant in vention, as viewedin Figs. 1 and 3, is'shown asso;- ciated with a commonly known form of' toilet assembly including abowli I of porcelainor otherv suitable material having 'anenlarged rim. 2. at the top thereof. Anj'adult, toilet. seat Shavingthe customary central opening 4 therein. isipivoted to the bowl as generally indicatediatiii,

The adaptor itself, in the illustrated embodi ment, embodies a plate-like structure having an elevated central portion 6 with a. substantially flat top surface, and which curves inwardly to define a central opening 1. Projecting laterally from this central portion is a plurality of flanges including a rear flange 8, a pair of side flanges 9-9, and a forward flange 10, giving the entire structure the general appearance of a Greek cross. This plate-like structure may be made of any suitable material, and can readily be molded in a single piece from a suitable thermosetting plastic in any desirable color. If so desired, it could be stamped out of sheet metal and enameled as desired.

On the underside of the aforesaid flanges one or more depending ribs ll may be provided integrally with the respective flange. Preferably the forward flange l adjacent the elevated central portion 6 is provided with a series of apertures l2 therethrough to serve as suitable drain openings in the event the child urinates on the upper portion of the adaptor or the adult seat 3. This forward flange 10 may also be provided with a suitable aperture l3 to facilitate hanging up the adaptor when the same is not in use.

A removable back M of proper curvature to extend around the rear part of the elevated portion 6 is provided, and this back may readily be made of sheet metal and enameled in keeping or in contrast to the aforesaid plate-like structure. Preferably immediately adjacent the elevated portion 6, the plate-like structure is provided with a plurality of slots l5 therethrough and a depending tongue l6 integral with the back 14 extends downwardly through each slot and is laterally bent as seen clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 to mount the back on the plate-like structure. When it is desired to remove the back, it is a simple expedient to straighten the tongues 16 and lift the cover from the plate-like member. The slots in the plate-like member will be relatively unnoticeable, and the removal of the cover will not detract in the slightest degree from the pleasing appearance of the plate-like member.

The back may be provided with several spaced vertical slots in the wall thereof through which a suitable strap-like element I8 may be threaded, the free ends of which may be secured in a known manner to retain a small child properly on the seat provided by the elevated portion 6 of the adaptor. To further add to the comfort of the child, the upper edge portion of the back is preferably covered with a yieldable material as indicated at 19, which material may satisfactorily be made of rubber or the equivalent.

In use, the instant invention is extremely simple and highly satisfactory. It is simply necessary to raise the adult seat, and place the adaptor flatly on the rim 2 of the toilet bowl. The flanges of the adaptor with their depending ribs will rest upon the upper surface of the bowl rim, and if so desired a rear flange 6 may be of sufiicient length to project between the vertical post supporting the adult seat hinge. After positioning the adaptor, the adult seat is lowered, and it will be noted that the back I4 is sized to fit within the opening 4 of the adult seat, and the side edges of this back are turned sharply downwardly so as not to interfere in any manner with the pivotal movement of the adult seat. The adult seat will come to rest in the usual manner on its rubber bumpers on the rim of the bowl, and the rubber bumpers will obviously be disposed between the forward flange and the side flanges of the adaptor. The elevated portion 6 of the adaptor projects upwardly and rather intimately within the opening 4 in the adult seat so that it will cooperate with the adult seat to provide a seat for a child. Thus, there is nothing whatever associated with the adaptor to in any manner mar or deface any part of the regular toilet assembly. When it is desired to remove the adaptor, it is a simple expedient to elevate the adult seat 3, and merely lift the adaptor off the rim of the bowl.

One of the major advantages of the instant invention is the fact that the adaptor may be utilized from the time the child is first able to occupy atoilet seat until the child has reached the age where it does not any longer need an auxiliary device. When the child is extremely young, it may be held in position with the aid of the back 14 and strap [8. Later, as the child continues to grow, the back may be readily removed and the adaptor utilized without it until the child reaches the age where it can use the adult seat.

Further, the adaptor has the desired psychological effect on the mind of the child, in that the child realizes that it is utilizing an adult structure in substantially the way that structure is used by an adult. Thus, the childs normal inclination for imitation is advantageously pampered, its desires to act like an adult are gratified, and the performance of the childs natural function as well as its training in respect thereto are greatly enhanced. In addition, it might be mentioned that the device is extremely pleasing in appearance, high'iy durable, and may be very economi caily manuiactured.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiected Without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

In a toilet seat adaptor for infants, a plate-like structure for free dispostion on the rim of a toilet bowl, an elevated intermediate portion on said structure defining an opening and functioning as a seat for a child, said portion being of a size to fit within the opening of an adult toilet seat hinged to the bowl, said structure having a plurality of spaced slots therein adjacent said portion, a back attach d to said structure to intimately embrace substantially the rear half of said elevated portion, the side edges of said back dropping downwardly to terminate adjacent the transverse median line of said elevated portion whereby the adult seat may be raised and lowered over the structure and back, and said back having tongues depending therefrom through said slots and laterally bent under said structure to removably mount said back on said structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS