US20100293704A1

US20100293704A1 - Removable Toilet Seat Barrier

Info

Publication number: US20100293704A1
Application number: US12/784,259
Authority: US
Inventors: Loranne Ehlenbach; John Ehlenbach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-22
Filing date: 2010-05-20
Publication date: 2010-11-25
Also published as: AU2010249455A1; EP2432359A4; WO2010135633A1; CA2763287A1; EP2432359A1

Abstract

A toilet seat barrier is disclosed that may be rotatably supported by a spindle to allow a user to apply the toilet seat barrier on a toilet seat surface without touching the toilet seat. An adhesive is provided on the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier to releasably secure the toilet seat barrier to the toilet seat surface. Perforations may be formed along a length of the toilet seat barrier so that the barrier may be sized to the seat. Further, tabs may be formed on the top side of the toilet seat barrier to allow a user to remove of the toilet seat barrier without touching the seat.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/180,551 filed May 22, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to toilet seat barriers that provide a sanitary barrier between a toilet seat and a user.
There are many instances in public places and private homes where individuals are concerned about coming into contact with unsanitary material that may be left behind on a toilet seat from previous users. Common methods of avoiding direct contact with a toilet seat are to either squat about the toilet seat to avoid contact, to line the toilet seat with toilet paper, or to use a toilet seat cover that is provided by the facility offering the toilet. Squatting may not always be an option, depending on the physical condition of the person, and is uncomfortable. Covering the seat with toilet paper is difficult and may involve contact with the toilet seat. In addition, toilet paper placed on the toilet seat often falls off the seat or shifts around as the user sits down, leaving no barrier between the seat and the user. Also, toilet paper may not be a sufficient barrier if the unsanitary material is moist or a liquid. Even if the facility offering the toilet supplies toilet seat barriers, sometimes they are not consistently offered or restocked.
Hence, a need exists for an improved sanitary barrier for a toilet seat which is transportable to any location that is quickly and easily applied to the toilet seat with minimal direct contact of the seat by the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toilet seat barrier, a toilet seat barrier roll assembly, and a method of using a toilet seat barrier are disclosed. The disclosed toilet seat barrier provides a convenient, effective, and easy to apply barrier between the user and public or private toilet seats. This barrier and related assembly reduce the possibility of the user coming into contact with unsanitary materials on the toilet seat either during the application of the barrier, during use of the toilet, or during the removal of the barrier.
The toilet seat barrier includes a sanitary barrier layer having a bottom side and a top side. An adhesive is placed on at least a portion of the bottom side of the sanitary barrier layer. This adhesive removably adheres the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier to a toilet seat surface. The toilet seat barrier is rollable such that the top side and the bottom side with the adhesive are placed into face-to-face contact with one another. When the toilet seat barrier is unrolled for application to a toilet seat, the adhesive separates from the top side of the barrier material.
In some forms, the top side of the sanitary barrier layer may include at least one pull tab that is attached thereto or that is integrated therewith.
In other forms, the adhesive may adhere more strongly to a surface on the bottom side of the sanitary barrier layer than a surface on the top side of the sanitary barrier layer. Further, the adhesive may adhere more strongly to a surface on the bottom side of the sanitary barrier than to the toilet seat surface. This balance of adhesive properties helps to ensure that the adhesive remains on the bottom side of the barrier and does not leave substantial adhesive residue on the seat surface or on the top side of the barrier.
In still other forms, the toilet seat barrier may include a core around which a length of the toilet seat barrier is wrapped thereby forming a toilet seat barrier roll. The bottom side of the toilet seat barrier may face radially outward relative to an axis of rotation of the core to expose the adhesive placed thereon on an outermost radial face of the roll. Alternatively, the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier may face radially inward relative to the axis of rotation to protect the adhesive placed thereon.
In some forms, the toilet seat barrier may have a plurality of transverse perforations formed along a length of the toilet seat barrier to form separable sections of the toilet seat barrier. A patch of adhesive may be placed on the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier proximate the perforations such that the patch of adhesive is closer to the perforations than a central location between the perforations.
A toilet seat barrier roll assembly is also disclosed including a toilet seat barrier roll as described above, a core that supports the toilet seat barrier roll, a spindle that engages the core, and a handle that attaches to the spindle. The toilet seat barrier roll is rotatable about the spindle for application to the toilet seat surface.
In some forms, a case may be included to protect the toilet seat barrier roll assembly while the assembly is not in use.
A method of using a toilet seat barrier on a toilet seat is also disclosed. A toilet seat barrier roll assembly is provided that includes a spindle that receives a core supporting a toilet seat barrier roll of the type described above. The toilet seat barrier is applied to the toilet seat surface by rolling the toilet seat barrier onto the toilet seat surface. During this application by rolling, the adhesive on the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier removably adheres the toilet seat barrier to the toilet seat surface.
In some forms, this method may further include removing the toilet seat barrier from the toilet seat surface by applying a force to at least one pull tab that is attached to or integrally formed in the top side of the toilet seat barrier. Once removed, the toilet seat barrier may be disposed.
Thus, a toilet seat barrier is disclosed that is easily transportable and always available to a user that carries it in a purse, diaper bag, briefcase, or other bag. By carrying the toilet seat barrier on his or her person, a user can avoid a situation in which the restroom either does not have a barrier available or in which the barriers have all been used.
The adhesive on the invention may cover only a portion of the bottom side of the barrier. Such a design saves raw materials, and thus, creates for a more cost effective toilet seat barrier.
Further, the disclosed toilet seat barrier may be quickly and easily applied to a toilet seat and the awkward handling by a user of a large seat cover or sheet with exposed adhesive is advantageous avoided.
These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of preferred embodiments of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as the preferred embodiments are not intended to be the only embodiments within the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front top side view of the toilet seat barrier affixed to a toilet seat;

FIG. 2 a is a top view of the toilet seat barrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 b is a bottom view of the toilet seat barrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 c is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a toilet seat barrier having a different adhesive pattern;

FIG. 3 is a view of the toilet seat barrier roll assembly removed from a holding case;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are side views of a toilet seat barrier roll being applied onto a toilet seat; and

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the pull tabs and layers of a toilet seat barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1, a toilet seat 10 is illustrated with a toilet seat barrier 20 placed thereon that serves as a hygienic barrier between and the toilet seat 10 and a person using the toilet seat 10. As will be described in more detail below, unlike traditional barriers in which a single large sheet with a hole is placed over the toilet seat 10, the toilet seat barrier 20 may be rolled onto the toilet seat 10.
With further reference to FIGS. 2 a-2 c, the toilet seat barrier 20 is, a continuous length of material and includes transverse perforations 30 at positions along the length of the toilet seat barrier 20. These transverse perforations 30 allow the user to fit the toilet seat barrier 20 to a particular toilet seat 10 and, further, to allow the user to easily separate the applied segments from the roll once the toilet seat barrier 20 has been applied.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 b and 2 c, the toilet seat barrier 20 is removably adhered or secured to the toilet seat 10 by an adhesive 40 on the bottom side 24 of the toilet seat barrier 20. The adhesive 40 may be placed on the entire bottom surface of the toilet seat barrier 20, in patches as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 b, as strips as shown in FIG. 2 c, or in other patterns. In the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 b, the patches of adhesive 40 are present on the bottom side 24 of the toilet seat barrier 20 and are in close proximity to each side of the perforations 30 so as to ensure that the end portions of each of the segments of the toilet seat barrier 20 are securable to the toilet seat 10.
The adhesive 40 should be strong enough to temporarily secure or bond the toilet seat barrier 20 to the surface of the toilet seat 10 and to prevent the barrier 20 from slipping or shifting out of position during seated use of the toilet. However, the adhesive 40 and the bond formed between the adhesive 40 and the toilet seat 10 should be weak enough for easy lifting or removal of the toilet seat barrier 20 from the toilet seat 10 after use.
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a, pull tabs 50 are provided on the top side 22 of the toilet seat barrier 20 to allow the user to pull the toilet seat barrier 20 up and off of the toilet seat 10 for disposal. The tabs 50 and the rest of the toilet seat barrier 20 should be sufficiently strong such that by pulling the tabs 50, a user can separate the toilet seat barrier 20 (including the adhesive 40) from the toilet seat 10 without tearing or otherwise damaging the toilet seat barrier 20, leaving adhesive residue on the surface of the toilet seat 10, or separating the tab 50 from the toilet seat barrier 20. Tabs 50 are placed on the top side of the toilet seat barrier 20 at least once per perforated section to allow the user to remove the barrier 20 without touching the toilet seat 10.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the toilet seat barrier 20 is shown rolled onto a central core 52 (best seen in side view in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b) to form a toilet seat barrier roll 54 and prior to application of the barrier 20 to a seat. The core 52 may be generally cylindrical in nature similar to a cardboard tube for toilet paper or the like or, alternatively, may be frusto-conical in shape. A frusto-conical shape for the core 52, and thus the roll 54, may assist the user in applying the toilet seat barrier 20 to the toilet seat 10, especially if the core 52 and roll 54 travel over arcuate sections of the seat 10 during application.
The core 52 may provide a hole, depression, or other similar physical attribute for attachment to a spindle 80 on a handle 60. The spindle 80 supports the core 52 of the roll 54 and provides the user control over the placement and deployment of the toilet seat barrier 20 without requiring the user to come into close proximity with the toilet seat 10. The core 52 should interact with the spindle 80 such that the roll 54 is rotatable about the core 52 and the barrier 20 may be unrolled therefrom.
In the embodiment shown, the toilet seat barrier 20 is rolled onto the core 52 so that the bottom side 24 of the toilet seat barrier 20 faces outward away from the rotational axis of the core 52. This structure allows the adhesive 40 to be placed on the toilet seat 10 by contacting the roll 54 with the surface of the seat 10. Then, the toilet seat barrier 20 may be unrolled onto the toilet seat 10 by pulling the roll 54 away from the point of adhesive contact with the seat 10.
Also as shown in FIG. 3, a case or enclosure 70 may be provided to protect and/or disguise the toilet seat barrier 20 and the handle 60. The case or enclosure 70 acts to protect the integrity of the toilet seat barrier 20 and to prevent the adhesive 40 from inadvertently sticking to dust, debris, or other particulate matter before use. The case 70 may be composed of materials including, but not limited to, fabric, nylon, or polymers.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, two different roll configurations are illustrated with the toilet seat barrier 20 of each roll configuration being applied from the toilet seat barrier roll 54 onto the upper surface of the toilet seat 10. The primary difference between FIGS. 4 a and 4 b is that in FIG. 4 a the adhesive 40 on the roll 54 faces radially outward (as is also illustrated in FIG. 3), while in FIG. 4 b the toilet seat barrier 20 is oppositely wrapped around the core 52 such that the adhesive on the roll 54 faces radially inward.
In view of this rolled structure, the adhesive must be properly selected. The adhesive 40 must not be too strong, so that the adhesive 40 does not bond to the top side 22 of the toilet seat barrier 20 with such a strength that the top side 22 of the barrier will tear when the user unrolls the barrier 20 from the roll 54 during application of the barrier 20 to the toilet seat 10. However, the bond of the adhesive 40 to the top side 22 of the barrier 20 should be sufficient to prevent the barrier 20 from inadvertently unrolling while not in use.
In FIG. 4 a, the user has secured the end of the toilet seat barrier 20 with adhesive 40 to the toilet seat 10 by pressing the exposed adhesive 40 near the end of the sheet to the toilet seat 10. With the end attached, the user is then able to keep his or her hands at a safe distance from the toilet seat 10 either by holding the handle 60 or by holding the ends of the spindle 80 (if the handle 60 is absent). Once the adhesive 40 is pressed into adhesion with the toilet seat 10, the user unrolls the rolled toilet seat barrier 20 over the entire upper surface of the toilet seat 10 in one continuous, fluid motion, without having to stop to tear the barrier 20 and reapply the barrier 20 adhesive 40 at multiple locations around the toilet seat 10. This ability provides the user to apply the barrier 20 to the toilet seat 10 in an efficient manner.
Referring now to FIG. 4 b, in another embodiment, the toilet seat barrier 20 is rolled onto the core so that the top side 22 of the toilet seat barrier 20 faces radially outwardly away from the rotational center of the core 52. In this embodiment, a pull tab 50 is also placed near each perforation 30 separating the plies of the barrier 20. The user may pull a tab 50 to disengage the adhesive 40 from the roll 54 and attach the adhesive onto the toilet seat 10. By using the tab 50, the user is able to place the toilet seat barrier 20 on the toilet seat 10 without touching the toilet seat 10.
Disposal of the barrier 20 is accomplished by unfolding at least one tab 50 and pulling upward while pinching the tab 50.
Referring now to FIG. 5, in some forms, the toilet seat barrier 20 may include multiple layers. The bottommost layer is the adhesive 40 and may be applied to some or all of the bottom side 24 as described above. The next layer up is a flexible, moisture-proof layer 90 of the toilet seat barrier 20. An intermediate layer 100 of the toilet seat barrier 20 is made of a similarly flexible material, but may provide more cushion to the user by having an increased thickness. An additional layer 110 may be formed over the layer 100. The layer 110 may be die cut in a U-shape to from tabs 50 that are integral with the layer 110 and, thus, the barrier 20. In this form, when rolled, the tabs 50 fold down, but are unfoldable as the barrier 20 is deployed. At least one tab 50 is provided in each perforated section of the barrier 20 and enables the user to remove the barrier 20 without touching the toilet seat 10. Alternatively, the layer 110 may be absent and the tabs 50 may be separately attached to the layer 100 of the toilet seat barrier 20.
The layers 90, 100, 110 of the barrier 20, as well as the adhesive 40 and tabs 50, may be constructed of biodegradable materials. Such a construction allows the user to dispose of the barrier 20 by flushing it after use. The barrier 20 may also be disposed of in a trash bin at the facility.
Many modifications and variations to this preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the described embodiment. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced.

Claims

1. A toilet seat barrier comprising:

a sanitary barrier layer having a bottom side and a top side; and

an adhesive placed on at least a portion of the bottom side of the sanitary barrier layer, the adhesive for removably adhering the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier to a toilet seat surface;

wherein the toilet seat barrier is rollable such that the top side and the bottom side with the adhesive are placed into face-to-face contact with one another and wherein, when the toilet seat barrier is unrolled for application to a toilet seat, the adhesive separates from the top side of the sanitary barrier.

2. The toilet seat barrier of claim 1, wherein the top side of the sanitary barrier layer includes at least one pull tab attached thereto.

3. The toilet seat barrier of claim 1, wherein the top side of the sanitary barrier layer includes at least one pull tab that is integrated therewith.

4. The toilet seat barrier of claim 1, wherein the adhesive adheres more strongly to a surface on the bottom side of the sanitary barrier layer than a surface on the top side of the sanitary barrier layer.

5. The toilet seat barrier of claim 1, wherein the adhesive adheres more strongly to a surface on the bottom side of the sanitary barrier than to the toilet seat surface.

6. The toilet seat barrier of claim 1, further comprising a core around which a length of the toilet seat barrier is wrapped to thereby form a toilet seat barrier roll.

7. The toilet seat barrier of claim 6, wherein the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier faces radially outward relative to an axis of rotation of the core to expose the adhesive placed thereon on an outermost radial face of the roll.

8. The toilet seat barrier of claim 6, wherein the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier faces radially inward relative to an axis of rotation of the core to protect the adhesive placed thereon.

9. The toilet seat barrier of claim 6, wherein the toilet seat barrier has a plurality of transverse perforations formed along a length of the toilet seat barrier to form separable sections of the toilet seat barrier.

10. The toilet seat barrier of claim 9, wherein a patch of adhesive placed on the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier proximate the perforations such that the patch of adhesive is closer to the perforations than a central location between the perforations.

11. A toilet seat barrier roll assembly comprising:

a toilet seat barrier roll including a sanitary barrier layer having a bottom side and a top side, and an adhesive placed on at least a portion of the bottom side of the sanitary barrier layer, the adhesive for removably adhering the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier to a toilet seat surface;

a core that supports the toilet seat barrier roll;

a spindle that engages the core; and

at least one handle attached to the spindle;

wherein the toilet seat barrier roll is rotatable about the spindle for application to the toilet seat surface.

12. The toilet seat barrier roll assembly of claim 11, further comprising a case to protect the toilet seat barrier roll assembly while not in use.

13. A method of using a toilet seat barrier on a toilet seat comprising:

providing a toilet seat barrier roll assembly that includes a spindle that receives a core supporting a toilet seat barrier roll, the toilet seat barrier roll including a toilet seat barrier with a sanitary barrier layer having a bottom side and a top side, and an adhesive placed on at least a portion of the bottom side of the sanitary barrier layer; and

applying the toilet seat barrier to the toilet seat surface by rolling the toilet seat barrier onto the toilet seat surface;

wherein the adhesive on the bottom side of the toilet seat barrier removably adheres the toilet seat barrier to the toilet seat surface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

removing the toilet seat barrier from the toilet seat surface by applying a force to at least one pull tab that is attached to the top side of the toilet seat barrier; and

disposing of the toilet seat barrier.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

removing the toilet seat barrier from the toilet seat surface by applying a force to at least one pull tab that is integrally formed in the top side of the toilet seat barrier; and

disposing of the toilet seat barrier.