US3153248A - Toilet seat - Google Patents

Description

H. G. MILLER Oct. '20, 1964' TOILET SEAT Filed May 8, 1951 INVENTOR.

1706a??? GML'ZZez' 3,153,248 TOILET SEAT Hobart G. Miller, 1325 W. Elmdale, Chicago 40, Ill. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,668 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-239) This invention relates to a commode or toilet seat and more particularly to a toilet seat usable by children, and which may be disposed of if desired.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat usable by children or infants which is readily transportable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toilet seat which is readily yet positively secured to a commode.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable toilet seat of such simple and economical construction that it may be disposed of after a single use.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable toilet seat which is readily compressible and easily carried about but which may be quickly ut to use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an anflatable toilet seat having a plurality of hook means ifor releasably securing said seat to a commode whereby said means are adapted to automatically more positively secure the seat to the commode when increased radial expansion of the seat is caused by an occupant.

Still further objects and their advantages will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention in position for use on a toilet bowl;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the present invention in a deflated, collapsed condition inside a carrying case;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmented bottom view showing an embodiment of the valve means in the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many diflerent forms, there is shown in the drawings and Will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 an ordinary commode, designated generally at 10, is seen to comprise a bowl 11 and a seat 12 hingedly associated therewith at 13, and adapted to overlie bowl 11. Commode is provided with the usual seat cover 14. As can be seen in FIG URES 1 and 3 an auxiliary seat, designated generally at 15, embodying the present invention is superposed on and secured to seat 12 in a manner which shall be hereinafter described. In the preferred embodiment, auxil- 16 defining an opening 17. Preferably, opening 17 has a diameter less than that of the hole 18 defined by seat 12, so that auxiliary seat may be effectively used by children or infants. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, body portion 16 is constructed of a flexible moldi United States Patent iary seat 15 is seen to comprise an annular body portion 3,153,248 Patented Oct. 20,- 1964 ice able material such as plastic and is inflatable by any suitable valve means, indicated generally at 21.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 4, valve means 21 are seen to comprise 'a length of flexible tube 22 associated with body portion 16 for inflating the same. A cap 23 is provided and is secured to tube 22, as by arm 24, for sealing off the end of tube 22 when the inflation of body portion 16 is completed. Auxiliary seat 15 may be provided with a plurality of depending hooks 25 for securing seat 15 in position on commode 10. Preferably, each of hooks 25 is attached to body portion 16 by means of straps 26, said straps being mutually spaced along the extreme outer periphery 27 of body portion 16. Straps 26 are formed, preferably, of a flexible rigidly resilient material. Straps 26 may be afiixed to body portion 16 by any suitable method or they may be integral therewith. v

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, a shield or splash guard 28 may be provided adjacent opening 17 in the event that auxiliary seat 15 is used by a male child or infant. Preferably, shield 28 has a solid upstanding portion 30, having a generally triangular cross section and is secured to body portion 16 by any suitable means. Where shield 28 is constructed of a material having thermal properties similar to the material of the body portion 16, shield 28 may be secured to body portion 16 by heat sealing as indicated at 31. The shield 28 is so attached to the body that it will automatically assume an upstanding position when the body is inflated.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the facility with which the auxiliary seat 15 may be transported and carried about in any suitable container or bag 32 when in a collapsed deflated condition. As is apparent it would be a simple matter to remove seat 15 from bag 32, inflate it, and quickly put it in condition for usage.

To use the present invention it is necessary only to inflate body portion 16 through valve means 21, and then place auxiliary seat 15 in position on top of commode 10. Each of hooks 25 is then manually engaged with commode seat 12 thereby securing auxiliary seat 15 to commode 10. The weight of an occupant on seat 15, however, causes a distortion of body portion 16, that is, an increased radial expansion, resulting in greater force coming to bear on hooks 25 thereby automatically more positively securing seat 15 in place. It is apparent, therefore, that while seat 15 is occupied it is positively secured to the commode and will not become disengaged therefrom. When the weight of the occupant is removed from seat 15 annular body portion 16 resumes substantially the initial condition of inflation and each of hooks 25, though still secured to commode 10, may be easily disengaged therefrom for removing seat 15. Thus, the simple design of auxiliary seat 15 and the positional relationship of hooks 25 thereon is such that auxiliary seat 15 is automatically and more positively secured on the commode by the weight of the occupant, reducing the danger of an occupant falling because of disengagement of the seat from commode 10.

Further, the simplicity and economy of construction of the present invention makes feasible the disposal thereof after a single use. Of course, seat 15 may be readily cleaned and re-used if desired.

I claim:

A toilet seat for use with a commode having a seat, comprising: an annular inflated body portion having an opening, said body portion defining an auxiliary seat, said body portion having at least a pair of straps substantially oppositely spaced thereon and attached thereto on one end at substantially the outer periphery of said annular body portion, and hook means secured to the other end of each of said straps and adapted to releasably engage the inner periphery of said commode seat, said straps being positioned to automatically increase the gripping force of said hooks to the commode seat when further radial expansion of the annular body portion beyond the pointof said initial inflation occurs due to the weight of an occupant on said seat thereby increasing the distance between the point of joinder of said straps and said body portion and the points on said seat contacted by said hooks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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