US2944664A - Disposable seat covers - Google Patents

Description

y 1960 J. c. THOMASMA ETAL 2,944,664

DISPOSABLE SEAT COVERS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 U cd S ms a 7 2,944,664 DISPOSABLE SEAT COVERS John C. Thomasma, Kalamazoo", and Charles W. Thomasma, Sturgis, Mich assignors to Sanitor Mfg. Co., Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed'De'c. 11, 1957, Ser.'No. 702,003

16 Claims. l. 206-57) This invention relates to a disposable toilet'seat cover, particularly to a cover adapted to be assembled into a multi-cover pack from which individual covers can be dispensed in trouble-free manner.

It-is common practice to provide disposable toilet seat covers in public rooms for sanitary purposes. Such covers are generally made of tissue paper which can -be disposed of easily after use and are often contained in a mechanicalhdispenser from which they can be withdrawn as needed and placed on the toilet seat. I

One common method of preparing such covers for ali ne July 12, 1960 out it, too, being torn so badly as to be unusable. This is especially true in the case of covers having a central flapwhichis connected with the main body of the cover by strips or tongues of paper .which'must be torn during the dispensing operation to separate the flap from the main" body at these places, such" as is illustrated in the patent referred to. Such tearing at these places not only gives themain body of the cover an unsightly appearancebutgenerally is accomplished with even greater difficulty than is the tearing at other locations,e.g. at

the extreme edges'of the cover. When such a condi tion' arises it is necessary to discard the rest of the pack and to install a new pack in the dispenser. The aggravating nature of the situation is all the more apparent when it is remembered that mechanical dispensers'are generally, employed, the efiicient operation of which requires smooth, trouble-free tearing of each cover in the place desired until the entire pack is exhausted. In the past it has b'een possible to overcome this wasteful and otherwise highly undesirable 'condition'only by' limiting the number of covers in the pack to such an extent that the pack mustbe renewed more frequently than is ecomechanical dispensing is to staple or otherwise secure a plurality of superposed covers to a backing member, such as a piece of heavy cardboard, in such a manner that when the backing member is hung inthe dispenser, e'lg. by way of suitable holes along one edge, the entire pack of covers is folded horizontally roughly along its center with both ends of the covers hanging downward in nomical or desirable. It is apparent that any improvement in disposable toilet seat covers which-would overcome the difiicul'ties inherent in hitherto known covers would be of value. I

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a disposable toilet seat cover which is free from the disadvantages of hitherto described 'covers'.

,[ An additional object is "to provide a disposable toilet seat cover, a desirably large number of which can be When a cover is removed in this manner of difiicult'y has beenexperienced'in this"manuer"of'dis-,

pe'nsi'rig disposable toiletseat covers due to {the dimculty occasioned by uneven tearing of the sheet around the fastehing meansf This difliculty is v probably accenuat'ed by the factthatthe grain ortexture of thetissue used in making the covers is generally uneven andtearirig of the sheet evenly under the best of conditions is diflicult to accomplish. f I 1 "1 -In United' States Patent No ."2,230,'395 there is described a seat cover (if the type justlreferred to in whic'h pairs'of straight, essentially parallel slits extending transversely of each cover'on each side of the staples are provided as ameans 'forinitiating and, to, some extent, for

guidingthe tearing off'the sheet; The cover described is int'e'rided to be" assemblediinto '5 multi-cover pack, mounted on 7 a" backing; strip of cardboard I or the I like with the pack folded ftransversely appijoximately "at its center, from which the inner cover can "dispensed by V pulling downward on its free end and the operation re-' peated until the pack "is exhausted. However', even when u such slits are provided his found that as successive hovers -are'torn from the'pac k the stubs'fofithepaper tongues between the slits which remain underthe staple become longer and longeralongt heir lower edges and eventually interfere with the tearing operation to. such an' extent that the last covers in a'packfdo' not tear evenly. They "may even tear entirely across the cover and the (fever thus be'ruined, j c

The tearing of one cover in this' rnanner makes it prac-i tical-lyiiniposs'ible forthe next-cover to be withdrawnwith assembled into a pack from which they can be withdrawn singly until the pack is exhausted Without injury to the individualicovers. I An additional object is to provide a pack of disposable toilet seat covers suitable for mechanicaldispensing of the individual covers 'A'n additional'object is to provide a disposable toilet seat cover havinga central flap which is suitable for dis-' pensing mechanically. from a pack thereof. and in which separation of the central flap from the main body of the cover by tearing during the dispensing operation 'is avoided; e

"These and; related objects are accomplished readily and economically according to the present invention in the wayfyvhich will be described. The invention can be und erstood readily by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein, in the interest of clarity, certain features are shown on a somewhat exaggerated scale and wherein:

I Figural is'a plan View ofdisposable toilet seat cover employing features of the invention,

seat covers or the type illustrated in Figure l,

figur 3 is a side elevation taken along the 1i '1 1 IIIOfFigu m Z a a 1 Figure a fragmentary illustration corresponding toj -a'partof;Figure 11 .but showing an alternate arrange inentof theiparts.

i R'eferring to liigure l, the disposable toilet seat coverillustratedicohipiise's' a sheet 12 ,of an easily torn'suitable materiah such asasheet of tissue paper. The sheet 12 ca'n be of any suitable size and shape and-is con:

veniently rectangular. The sheet 12'is conveniently prozidedv with a 'p rojecting tab 13 along one of its edges, herein referred toas its forward edge. In the interest oft economy the sheet is formed along its rearward edge opposite its forward edge with a recession T14 corresponding' to the shapeand size ,of the tab 13.. When formed in this" way no material is wasted in thecutting ot the individual sheets from a continuous supply;

= Figure'Z is a plan view of a pack of disposable toilet The 'sheet'1'2""isalso provided with an migraines erally curvedslit defining and separating from the main body of the sheet 12 a central flap 16 of suitable dimensions, the flap 16 being separated by the slit 15 entirely from the main body of the sheet 12 except fora "suitable distance valong the forward end of the flap where the ends of the slit 15 are spaced from one afiotheri In use the flap 16 thus depends at its forward end from the main body of the sheet 12. The sheet 12 is also provided with tear slits which are located in pairs rearwardly of a fold line, 17 of Figure l,'extending transversely of the sheet approximately 'midway between its forward and rearward edges, frequently somewhat nearer the forward edge than'the rearward edge. Each pair of tear slits in the main body'. of the sheet 12, herein referred to as the first pair of tear slits, consists of two slits 18 and 19 defining between them a tongue 22 integral at its inner end with the main body of. the sheet. The forward slit 18 of the pair, which may be so close to the fold line 17 as to be practically coextensive therewith, extends from the lateral edge of the sheet 12 transversely for a suitable distance and terminates in -a closed end. The rearward slit 19 of the pair comprises a section of approximately the same length as the forward slit 18 which extends from the lateral edge of the sheet 12 essentially parallel with the slit 18. The slit 19 is, however, prolonged to form a section of the slit adjacent its closed end which converges toward a projection of the line of the forward slit 18. Although the convergent section of the slit '19 adjacent its closed end can be of any suitable configuration, it is convenient and satisfactory to form it in the shape of a curve of approximately constant radius with the center of curvature approximately at the closed end of the forward slit 18. It has been found that when the slits 18. and 19 have the configurations just described the subsequent tearing of single covers from a pack thereof, as will be described, is facilitated and tearing of the sheet is limited to tearing of the tongue 22 defined by the slits 18 and 19 from the main body of the sheet 12 with no tendency for the sheet to tear elsewhere. slits are provided opposite one another transversely of the sheet 12. The flap 16 is provided at each of its lateral edges with a second pair of tear slits which can be essentially identical with the first pair insofar as configuration is concerned. Thus the slits 23 and 24 of Figures 1 and 2 form such a second pair of tear slits. The forward slit 23 of the pair extends from a lateral edge of the flap 16 transversely of the flap for a suitable distance and terminates in a closed end. The rearward slit 24 of the pair comprises -a section essentially parallel with and of approximately the same length as the forward slit 23. However, the rearward slit 24 is prolonged to provide a section adjacent its closed end which is convergent toward a projection of the line of the forward slit 23. Although the convergent section of the slit 24 can be of any suitable configuration, it is convenient and satisfactory, as in the case of the convergent section of the slit 19, to form it essentially in the form of a curve of constant radius with its center of curvature approximately at the closed end of the forward slit 23. The slits'23 and 24 thus define between them a tongue 25 integral at its inner end with the flap 16 and essentially identical in configuration with the tongue 22. The slits 18 and 19 and, similarly, the slits 23 and 24 are spaced from one another and are of suificient length to accommodate between them any suitable fastening means, e.g. a staple, by means of which a plurality of the slitted sheets can be secured to a backing member to form a pack which can be loaded into a dispenser, such a pack being illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Any backing member 26 of suitable rigidity can be employed in forming the pack. Generally, a cardboard sheet can be employed satisfactorily. The backing member 26 is First pairs of tear of generally rectangular shape having a length approximately the same as the width of the sheet 12 and having a width sufiicient to give it the required strength. The backing member 26 is provided along one of its edges with two or more holes 29 by means of which it can be hung on suitable pegs or hooks, e.g. in a dispenser.

'In making the pad of Figures 2 and 3 it is convenient to cut and slit a desired plurality of seat covers at one operation from a stack of the requisite number of superposed sheets. The stack of superposed covers is then secured, e.g. stapled, to the backing member, the fastening means passing through the tongues 22 and 25 and not through any other part of the main body of the sheet 12 or of the flap 16. The backing member 26 is positioned with respect to the, stack of superposed covers before the stapling operation so that the tongues 22 and 25 are secured by the staples 27 and 28 to the backing member adjacent the same edge of the member as the holes 29 but somewhat further removed from the edge than are the holes. The backing member extends toward the rearward edges of the covers rather than toward their forward edges. Following the stapling operation and prior to hanging the pack in a dispenser, the stack of superposed sheets is folded approximately along the transverse line 17 in such a way that the forward ends of the covers are folded away from the backing member 26 the folded pack then being as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that when the pack is hung on suitable pegs, i.e. by means of the holes 29, the backing member 26 and both halves of the stack of covers hang in closely positioned relationship and that the entire pack occupies a minimum of space. Furthermore, the several covers are in nested relationship with one another and are supported on the backing member 26 by the staples 27 and 28 with the member 26 on the outside of the nested covers. To dispense a cover from the pack it is only necessary to grasp the tab 13 of the innermost cover of the pack andpull it downward, whereupon the tongues 22 and 25 tear from thernain body of the sheet 12 and from the flap 16, respectively, adjacent the respective staples and the entire cover can then be removed for use. It will be noted, especially from Figure 2, that grasping of the tab 13 of the innermost of the nested covers is facilitated by the fact that the rearward edge of each sheet is cut away in forming the tab of another sheet thus affording ample room for performing the operation described. In me: chanical dispensing, it is merely necessary to provide a rubber tipped slider adapted to engage the surface of the tab 13 of the innermost cover and to forward the tab downward through a suitable opening in the bottom of the dispenser case so that it can be grasped and the entire cover withdrawn readily from the case. The holes 29 and the staples 27 and 28 are preferably located so that in the folded and hung pack pegs passing through the holes 29 will clear the folded covers and not interfere with the dispensing operation. It will be apparent, also, that any suitable securing means can be employed to secure the tongues 22 and 25 to the backing member 26. The invention has been described with respect to the use of staples as being convenient and economical but it is understood that the particular securing means employed is not limiting. The tongues 22 and 25 can be riveted to the backing member 26, if desired.

' It will also beobserved from the drawing that in the modification illustrated the second pairs of tear slits 23 and 24 are located somewhat closer to the rearward edge of the sheet 12 than are the first pairs of tear slits 18 and 19. This relative positioning of the tear slits is often of advantage since when a cover is withdrawn from the pack it causes tearing of the tongues 22 to start before tearing of the tongues 25 begins. In the case of very thin sheets of low strength this avoids any tendency for the cover to tear other than across the tongues,

- a plurality of superposed 'due to the tension which would otherwise be required to initiate tearing of all of the tongues of a single cover at the same time.

It will be noted that in the modification of Figures 1 and 2 one endof each of the tear slits 23 and 24 forms an angular juncture with the slit 15. It is often diflicult in cutting paper involving such an arrangement of slits to form the cutting die in sucha way that clean cutting of the paper entirely through a pack of sheets is eflected 16. Such a modification is illustrated in Figure'4 wherein 7 20 the slit includes a. 'section20havinga configuration and location essentially the same as, and functioning essentially the same as, the'rearwardmostslitM of Figure 1, the slit 15 then continuing rearwardly ofthe sheetas shown at 221 of Figure 4 to complete the separation of the rearward endofthe-flap 16 from thennain body of the sheet 12. Thismodification avoidsftheu'se of a cutting die having two angular knife inter-sections located close to one'another. It. will :be observed that the section 20 of'the slit curves smoothlylat its, ends-into the slits 15 and 21 and'that one of the .angularknife intersections is thus avoided. lT-he. modification ofFigure 4 can be assembled in pack form and dispensed from a dispenser in a manner identical withthatdescribed in connection with the modification of Figures 1 and 2. .When a coveris withdrawn from a dispenser in the manner described sheets separating a centrally located flap ofsuitable dimensions partially from the main body'of each sheet; registering pairs of tear slits in the several sheets extending transversely of the sheets from the edges thereof defining between them superposed tongues of the several sheets, the rearward slit of each pair being longer than the forward slit of the pair and being formed with a section adjacent its closed end generally convergent toward a projection of the line of the forward slit; registering tear slit means in the several central flaps each associated with anedge of the flap and separate from the main body of the sheet defining superposed tongues of the several flaps; and meanssecuring the superposed tongues of the main bodies of the sheets and of the flaps tightly to the backing member. p p 5. A pack of seat covers as claimed in claim 4 wherein thesuperposed sheets are folded transversely approximately midway between their forward and rearward edges with the backing member on an outer side of the pack and the tongues ofthe main bodies of the sheets and of the flaps are located rearwardly of the sheets with respect to the fold.- Y 6. In a disposable toilet seat cover, the combination ."including: a sheet of disposable easily torn material of utilizing the modification of Figure 4, the flap tears easily from the inner end of the slit 23 across the tongue 25 tothe curved slitted sections 20, the only diflference in the finally dispensed seat cover being that it is somewhat wider around its forward half than is the case when the modification of Figures 1 and 2. is employed.

We claim:

1. In a disposable toilet seat cover, the combination including: a sheet of disposable, easily torn material of suitable dimensions having forward, rearward and lateral edges; a generallycurved slit in the, sheet separatinga centrally located flap of suitable dimensions partially from the main body of the sheet; a pair of tear slits extending transversely of the sheet from a lateral edge thereof defining between them a tongue of the sheet adapted to accommodate a securing means whereby a plurality of the superposed slitted sheets can be secured in pack form to a backing member, the rearward slit of the pair being longer than the forward slit and beingformed with a section adjacent its closed end generally convergent toward a projection of the line ofthe forward slit; and tear slit means in the central flap associated with an edge thereof and separate from the main body of the sheet defining a tongue of the flap adapted to accommodate a securing means whereby the'flaps of a plurality of superposed sheets can be secured to'a backing member.

s 2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the con- 'vergent section of the rearwardslit of the pair is in the form'of a curve of' approximately constant radius with the adjacent end of the forward slit as its approximate a center of curvature.

' 3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pair of tear slits is located rearwardly of themid-point of the lateral edge of the sheet.

7 material of sintable dimensions having forward, rearward bination including: a backing member of suitable rigidity;

4. In a pack of disposable toilet seat covers, the com- I suitable dimensions having forward, rearward and lateral edges; an elongated, generally curved slit in the sheet separating acentrally located flap of suitable shape and dimensions from the main body of the sheet except along its forward edge; a first pair of tear slits extending transversely of the sheet from an: edge of the mainbody therof; ase'cond; pair of tear slits extending transversely of the flap from an edge thereof, the tear slits of each pair being spaced from one another defining a tongue of the main body of the sheet and of the flap, respectively, adapted to accommodate a fastening means whereby a plurality of superposed slitted sheets can be secured in pack form to a backing member, and the rearward slit of each pair being longer than the forward slit and being formed with a section adjacent its closed end convergent toward a projection of the line of the forward slit.

7. A cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pairs of tear slits are each located .rearwardly of approximately the center of, the sheet.

8. A cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the forward slit of the first pair of tear slits is located nearer the center of the sheet than is the forward slit of'the second pair of tear slits.

9. A cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the rearward slit of the second pair of tear slits is a suitably curved section of the elongated, generally curved slit.

10. A cover as claimed in claim 6 having first pairs of rigidity having perforations adjacent one of its edges for hanging; a plurality of super-posed sheets of easily torn and opposite lateral edges; registering, generally curved, elongated slits in the separate sheets separating a centrally located flap of suitable dimensions from the main body of each sheet except along its forward edge; registering first pairs of tear slits in the several sheets extending transversely of the sheets from the edges thereof defining between them a first set of superposed tongues integral with the several sheets; vregistering second pairs of tear slits in the several flaps extending transversely of the flaps from the edges thereof defining between them a second set of superposed tongues integral with the several flaps, the rearward slit of each pair being longer than the forward slit of the pair and being formed with a section adjacent its closed end generally convergent toward a projection of the line of the forward slit; and meanstsecuring the sets of superposed tongues to the backing member adjacent the same edge thereof as the perforations. -i'12. A pack of covers a'sclaiined in claim 11 wherein :the pairs of tearslits are located rearwardly of the center of the superposed sheets whereby, when the superposed sheets are folded along approximately their transverse centers away from the backing member and the pack hung by way of the perforations with the forward and rearward sections of the sheets depending essentially vertically in nested relationship from the secured sets of tongues, the forward edges of the sheets project downward beyond the rearward edges of the sheets.

13. A pack of covers as claimed in claim 12 wherein the slits of the second pairs of rtear slits are removed from the line of folding by a distance greater than the'correspending slits of the first pairs of tear slits whereby forced downward travel of the downwardly projecting forward edge of the innermost of the nested sheets in the folded and hung pack initiates tearing across the tongue of the first set integral with the sheet and, subsequently, tearing across the tongue of the second set integral with the flap.

'14. Azpack of covers as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rearward slit of each 'of the second pairs oftear slits in the several flaps is a suitably curved, section of the elongated, generally curved slit in the respective sheet.

15. In a disposable seat cover, the combination including: a sheet of disposable easily torn material of suitable dimensions having forward, rearward and lateral edges; an elongated, generally curved slit in the sheet separating a centrally located flap of suitable shape and d mensions from the main body of the sheet except along its forward edge; a first pair of tear slits extending transversely of the sheet from an edge of the main body thereof, defining-between them a'tongue "of the sheet adapted to accommodate a' fastening means -whereby themain bodiesof'a plurality of superposed 'slitted sheets in-pack form can be secured to a backing member, the rearward slit of the pair being longer than theforward slit and being formed with a section adjacent its closed end eon- ,vergent toward a projection of the line of the forward slit; a flap tearslit extending transversely of the flap from an edge thereof, the elongated, generally curved slit having a section in the vicinity of the flap tear slit extending in edirection roughly parallel with the flap tear slit and adapted to cooperate therewith as a second pair of tear slits defining between them a tongue of the flap adapted to accommodate a fastening means whereby the superposed flaps of the pack can be secured to said backing member. 7 V i 16. A seat cover as claimed in claim 15 wherein the part. of the section of the elongated, generally curved slit in the. vicinity of the flap tear slit adjacent the closed end of the flap tear slit is convergent toward'a projection of the line of the flap tear slitJ i Ref ere nces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,437,455 Sominer Dec. 5, 1922 1,4s2,749 4 Juline Feb. 5, 1924 r 1,949,121 Herder' Feb 27, 1934 Thomasma i June 1, 1943

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