US2717953A

US2717953A - Toilet seat warmer

Info

Publication number: US2717953A
Application number: US336742A
Authority: US
Inventors: Columbus F Brandi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-02-13
Filing date: 1953-02-13
Publication date: 1955-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1972-09-13

Description

Sept. 13, 1955 c F. BRANDl 2,717,953

TOILET SEAT WARMER Filed Feb. 13, 1953 IN V EN TOR. ('04 0/4506 I: 5/?4/V04 United States Patent TOILET SEAT WARMER Columbus F. Brandi, Tahoe Valley, Calif.

Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,742

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-46) This invention relates to a toilet seat warmer. More particularly, the invention has reference to a seat warmer of the electrically controlled type, that can be applied to a conventional toilet seat for the purpose of heating the same to a desired extent.

Summarized briefly, the invention comprises a toilet seat warmer that is not built into or permanently attached to the lid or seat of the toilet, the invention differing in this respect from the other seat warmers of which I have knowledge. Rather, my device comprises a unitary assembly including a resistance element encased in a plastic casing formed to the approximate outer configuration of a conventional toilet seat and lid, the plastic casing being fiat and being simply interposed between the seat and lid. A pocket formation on the back or upper surface of the casing receives the lid of the toilet, so as to cause the entire device tobe swung upwardly when the lid is raised. Of course, as long as the lid remains lowered between uses of the toilet, the toilet seat will be heated to a desired extent.

As may be clearly noted from the brief summary of the invention given above, one important object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose given which will not involve modification or redesign of a toilet seat or lid in any way, but which will, instead, constitute merely an attachment for the toilet lid, which attachment can be removed readily whenever desired, and will itself constitute an attractive protective covering for the lid.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated which can be manufactured at very low cost, will be applicable to toilets varying from one another as to the particular size and design thereof, and will be substantially trouble free in operation.

Another object is to provide a seat warmer as stated which will be so designed as to eliminate the possibility of damage to the seat or lid by excessive heat, my invention operating on a low amount of power and being so designed as to permit it to remain in an on position for long periods of time.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a toilet equipped with a seat warmer formed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, the scale being eniarged still further, taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the seat warmer per se.

The seat warmer constituting the present invention is applicable to a completely conventional toilet assembly including a bowl 10, a seat 12, and a lid 14. In applying the invention to a toilet so formed, it is not necessary 2,717,953 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 that the lid or seat be removed, or modified, the seat warmer 16 being mountable upon the lid 14 in a simple manner to be presently m-ade apparent.

The device constituting the present invention includes a resistance or heating element 18, said element being shown to particular advantage in Figure 3 and comprising an endless series of convolutions 20. As will be noted, the convolutions 20 are so arranged as to correspond generally to the configuration of the seat 12 of the toilet. Thus, the convolutions 20 will overlie the seat 12, throughout the circumference of said seat, but will not overlie the opening of the seat, when in use.

The heating element is powered through an electric cord 22 having intermediate its opposite ends a conventional switch 24, the electric cord being provided with a plug 26 that can be engaged in an ordinary convenience outlet.

The heating element is encased in plastic material, which material can be either rigid or flexible, as desired. It may be noted that the wire of which the heating element is formed would first be provided with a covering of plastic or electrically insulative material, after which said wire is positioned between upper and lower

plastic laminations

28, 30 respectively (Figure 4). The

laminations

28, 30 can be sealed to one another, over that part of the center area thereof that does not have the heating element interposed therebetween. Further, the

laminations

28, 30, would be sealed throughout their peripheries, as at 32.

It will be seen from the above that the heating ele ment is completely enclosed in a plastic casing, which casing will prevent marring of the toilet seat or lid, and will further prevent damage to the lid when the device is in use.

It is also considered to be of importance, in considering the construction of this portion of the device, that the plastic-enclosed heating unit is quite flat and thin, thus to permit it to be interposed between a conventional seat 12 and lid 14, without changing the hinge assembly of these parts of the toilet.

Stitched or otherwise secured to the under lamination 28 is a flexible plastic pocket member 34, the pocket memher being substantially coextensive in area with the area of the plastic-enclosed heating element. The pocket member 34 is so shaped as to fit over the lid 14, the pocket member defining, in cooperation with the lamination 28, a pocket or cavity in which said lid can be readily entered. The pocket, of course, is open at one end to permit the lid to be extended thereinto, this construction being shown to particular advantage in Figure 5.

At the open end of the pocket, there is provided a pair of draw strings 36, said draw strings having free ends extending into a V-shaped slit 38 formed in the pocket. The pocket, after the lid has been extended thereinto, is closed about the lid by drawing the draw strings tight, after which the draw strings are tied in the manner shown in Figure l.

The construction is particularly advantageous, in that it can be readily applied to any conventional toilet. Further, the device is of such a nature as to constitute, in itself, an attractive protective covering for the toilet, the pocket member 34 eliminating the usual lid cover of the toilet, which is often used to preserve the lid and prevent damage thereto.

In use of the device, the switch 24 is turned to the on position, as a result of which the toilet seat will be warmed, assuming, of course, that the lid 14 is swung to its closed position. The heating element, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, would require only a small amount of power, thus to permit the element to remain U energized over a long period of time without using an excessive amount of electricity.

Further, it would be understood that the heating element would not give out excessive heat, but wouldprovide only as much heat as is necessary to remove the chill from the toilet seat 12.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet seat warmer comprising an endless heating element formed of a plurality of convolutions extending over an area substantially coextensive with that of a toilet seat, said convolutions being adapted to overlie said seat to heat the same; a casing of electrically insulative material completely enclosing said convolutions, and having an outer configuration substantially corresponding to that of the toilet seat; a pocket member having an outer configuration substantially like that of a toilet seat superimposed upon and secured to said casing, said pocket member being open at one end for entry of a toilet seat lid.

2. A toilet seat warmer comprising a heating element formed of a plurality of convolutions extending over an area substantially coextensive with that of a toilet seat, said heating element being adapted to overlie said toilet seat to warm the same; a plastic casing completely enclosing said heating element, said plastic casing comprising a pair of laminations respectively overlying and underlying the heating element and sealably connected to one another throughout their peripheries; and a pocket member having an outer configuration substantially like that of a toilet lid, said pocket member being secured to one of said laminations to define a pocket between the pocket member and the limination to which it is secured, said pocket being open at one end for entry of a toilet seat lid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,670 Lagrelle Dec. 22, 1896 1,058,270 Stephens Apr. 8, 1913 1,170,811 Hay et al. Feb. 8, 191.6 1,297,031 Stable Mar. 11, 1919 1,656,955 Schaal Jan. 24, 1928 2,172,224 Sailer Sept. 5, 1939 2,481,050 Starnes Sept. 6, 1949 2,611,136 Diamond Sept. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,111 Great Britain of 1893 503,199 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1937 360,567 Italy June 25, 1938