US2858549A

US2858549A - Removable cover for toilet seats

Info

Publication number: US2858549A
Application number: US441602A
Authority: US
Inventors: Susan V Carson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-07-06
Filing date: 1954-07-06
Publication date: 1958-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-04

Description

Nov. 4, 1958 s. I. CARSON 2,858,549 REMOVABLE COVER FOR TOILET SEATS.

Filed July 6, 1954 VENTOR W ATTORNEYS REMOVABLE COVER FOR TOILET SEATS Susan V. Carson, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,602

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-242) This invention relates to a removable cover for toilet seats, and has for an object to provide a simple and easily applied or removable cover for toilet seats in lavatories and bathrooms, for improving the comfort and sanitation, as well as improving the appearance of the lavatory or bathrooms.

' Another object is to provide a cover which is readily washable and may be washed in a Washing machine with other laundry articles, to maintain it in a clean and sanitary condition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a toilet seat of this cover applied;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a detail section substantially on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the lower member taken substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. ,3;'

Fig. 5 is a detail section similar to Fig. 3 showing a somewhat different arrangement, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a cover for a slightly different form of toilet seat.

As is well known, toilet seats may be very uncomfortable, especially in cold weather, and also may become soiled and very unsanitary unless frequently cleaned. Also, old seats may become marred and unsightly, which may also increase the liability of uncleanliness or unsanitary conditions. It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome and obviate these objections and conditions by providing a comfortable, clean, sanitary and attractive cover for the seat which may be easily and quickly removed and applied, and also for effective washing, or changing for matching the color schemes of the bath or lavatory.

This article or device is a cover for toilet seats of a generally annular oval shape, the form of Fig. 1 being continuous and closed at the front, while that of Fig. 6 is for the same shape seat, except instead of being continuous at the front it has a narrow transverse passage or break, the seat covers being otherwise of the same general shape and form. The cover is made to cover the entire surface of the seat, including both the top and under surfaces, and for this purpose the cover for the closed front type of seat of Fig. 1 is also closed at the front, while that of Fig. 6 for the type of seat having an opening at the front is also provided with a corresponding narrow passage or opening, so that in both cases the cover snugly fits and conforms to the shape of the seat throughout.

The cover is made of a combination of materials, in-

with one form nited States Patent 0 i 2,858,549 Patented Nov. 4, 1958 eluding a top member 10 of terry cloth or towelling or any suitable similar washable material. That is, it is of a cloth or fabric having substantially the general characteristics of terry cloth or towelling and similar materials, and this top member or material is of a width to cover the entire top surface of the seat indicated at 11, and thus extends over the top surface between the opposite side edges, or that is, the inner and outer peripheral edges of the seat. The cover also comprises a lower portion 12 extending over and covering the under surface of the seat, and extends between and is secured to the opposite edges of the top member 10. This lower portion comprises superposed

members

13 and 14, the upper of which is of washable cotton fabric or similar material, and the lower portion 14 is of non-moisture-absorbing flexible plastic sheet material. These two

members

13 and 14 are stitched together at their opposite edges, and they are both stitched to the inner peripheral edge 15 of the top member 10 of the cover throughout the entire inner peripheral edge of the cover, in both the closed front type of cover of Fig. l and the open front type of cover of Fig. 6. The outer edges of the

members

13 and 14 are also secured together and they are also secured to the outer edges of the upper member 10. With this arrangement the fabric member 13 form a reinforcement for the plastic member 14 and prevents pulling out of the stitches from the plastic member. The plastic also forms a sanitary cover for the fabric 13 and under side of the toilet seat, from which moisture or other contamination may be readily wiped with a moist cloth to maintain it ina clean, sanitary condition.

The outer edges of the upper and lower members It] and 12 are secured together for at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the cover by readily detachable means or fasteners. In the closed type of cover shown in Fig. 1, these fasteners extend throughout substantially the entire outer periphery except for a relatively short distance in a straight or non-curved edge portion at the top or back edge 16 of the cover, so that the entire outer edges may be disconnected to permit insertion of the closed type of seat into the cover, and then the outer edges may be closed together so as to secure the cover on the seat. Any suitable type of readily releasable or detachable securing means may be used, that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 being a snap type of fastener 17 of the usual type comprising a stud 18 secured to one member insertable into a spring grip socket 19 mounted on the other member, but another very satisfactory type of fastener is the so-called zipper type, or even hooks and eyes or similar fasteners could be used. The zipper and snap fastener type are more quickly operable, but the zipper ice is more expensive, particularly where the detachable securing means is extended throughout the entire outer periphery of the cover, as in the closed front type of Fig. l. The securing means, such, for example, as the snap fasteners or other securing means can be mounted on

extensions

20 and 21 of the side edges of the upper and lower members 10 and 12, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, or they could be mounted on overlapped

edges

22 and 23 close to the surface of the toilet seat as shown in Fig. 5, it being of course understood that in these figures the thickness of the various elements is exaggerated for clearer illustration.

In the open front type of cover for the open front type of seat, as in Fig. 6, it is not necessary that the detachable fastener means be carried throughout the entire outer peripheral edge of the cover as in the closed type. That is, it is suflicient for insertion of this type of seat if the detachable connection extends from one end of the top opening or straight portion 16 to a point 24 at substantially the widest portion of the seat or cover, this detachable connection being indicated in Fig. 6 as of the zipper type 25, although as previously indicated, it could be of the snap fastener or other suitable easily detachable securing means. In this cover the remainder of the peripheral. outer edges of the top and lower members and 12 are stitched together, as indicated at 26, the same as the inner peripheral edges 15.

In both forms of the cover, there is left at the top or back outer edge an elongated opening and straight portion 16 where the edges of the top and bottom members 10 and 12 are not secured together as the rest of these edges, thus providing an opening at 16 of a width to accommodate the hinge members 27 connected to the seat, and to give a snug, close fit and appearance at the back and about the hinges. When the cover has been applied to the seat, tapes 28 are fastened to the top and bottom members 10 and 12 at a point between the hinge members 27, which can be tied together as indicated at 29 to close this gap and hold the edges together snugly about the hinge members.

It will thus be seen that both forms of the cover are of the ame general shape and construction for application to both the closed front or open front type of toilet seat, these seats being otherwise of the same shape except for this gap or opening, and therefore the two covers for these seats are of the same shape except for a similar opening at the front for the open form of seat. This difference, however, requires a somewhat different arrangement of the detachable securing means for the outer edges of the covers to permit their application to the two forms of seat, the closed front type of seat, as shown in Fig. l, requiring that the entire outer peripheral edges of the top and bottom members of the cover be secured together by the detachable fastening means to permit application of the cover to the seat, while in the open front type of seat and cover it is necessary that they be detachable only at a portion of the upper wider part of the cover and seat, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The upper and lower pieces or members of the cover are cut accurately to size and shape and so secured together as to closely and snugly fit the surfaces of the seat, for both comfort and improved appearance, and also to prevent shifting out of position on the seat when-in use. The soft, comfortable characteristic of the material 10 makes the seat much more comfortable in use than would the bare seat of either wood or plastic material, and particularly is this true in the winter or cold weather. Also, this cover greatly improves the appearance of the seat, particularly if the seat is old or stained or marred, and may obviate the necessity in such cases of purchasing and installing a new seat. This cover is readily removable to permit it to be taken off for washing and it can be washed with the general laundry articles in a washing machine, and then when dry, easily and quickly applied to the seat, maintaining the seat always in a clean, sanitary condition. Also, as previously indicated, the lower plastic covering 14 may be readily wiped off with a damp 4 cloth to maintain it clean and sanitary, and the use of such a plastic material for the under side of the seat is important in maintaining the sanitary healthful condition. They will not only improve the comfort, healthful and sanitary conditions, as well as the appearance of bathrooms and lavatories in the home, but they are important for use in hotels and similar applications in maintaining sanitary conditions, as they may be readily removed and laundered and supplied fresh and clean, the same as towels and similar articles. As previously indicated, they are made in sizes to fit closely each size and type of seat, but each having the opening and straight portion 16 at the top to allow for the mounting hinges for the seat. The soft, comfortable material of the top member 10 covers all the top or normally exposed surface of the seat by extending this material to at least the outer portions of both the lower inner and outer edges of the seat. Also the covers may be of different colors to match the color scheme of the bathroom and lavatory, and to greatly improve the appearance and beauty thereof.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

A removable cover for toilet seats, said cover being of generally annular and oval shape formed to closely fit a substantially oval ring-shaped seat with the seat enclosed in the cover, the structure of said cover comprising a top member of terry cloth or similar washable material of a width to fit over and cover the top surface of the enclosed seat and extending to the inner and outer side edges thereof, a bottom portion to lie under and cover the under surface of the enclosed seat, said bottom portion comprising a pair of superimposed members of material of which the upper is of washable cotton fabric and the lower a sheet of flexible plastic material, stitching securing the inner edges of the top member and lower members together throughout the inner periphery of the cover, the outer edges of the top and lower members being disconnected for a portion of the outer peripheral edges of the cover for a sufiicient distance to form an opening to permit passage of the hinge members connected to the seat, a pair of tapes secured to the top and lower members at substantially the center of said opening to tie said members together after applying the cover to the seat, and detachable means securing the outer edges of the tOp and lower members together extending from one end of said opening for a sufficient distance that when detached there is provided an opening including the first opening of a size for insertion of the seat into the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 149,626 Fielding May 18, 1948 1,530,424 Shollar Mar. 17, 1925 2,057,551 Bishop Oct. 13, 1936 2,642,582 Patton June 23, 1953