WO2006016868A1

WO2006016868A1 - Portable collapsible toilet seat

Info

Publication number: WO2006016868A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/022057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stan Mazin
Original assignee: Stan Mazin
Priority date: 2004-07-09
Filing date: 2004-07-09
Publication date: 2006-02-16

Abstract

A toilet seat (10) includes a body (12) with telescoping legs (80) pivotally attached thereto. The body has a hole (20) defined therethrough and hooks attached to the body adjacent to the hole. A refuse bag has hook-accommodating eyes and is releasably attached to the hooks to cover the hole. A carrying case is included and the seat can be collapsed and stored in the carrying case.

Description

PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE TOILET SEAT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the general art of baths, sinks and closets, and to the particular field of toilet seats.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Many people enjoy traveling. People travel to all sorts of locations ranging from those that are highly developed such as are found in the United States to those that are quite primitive, such as are found in some third world countries. The traveler must be willing to adapt to many differences in living, especially if that traveler is to spend great lengths of time in the foreign country. These differences range from simple customs, such as greetings, to complex customs. Food is one area that travelers often encounter as different from what they are accustomed to.

While many different customs are easily accommodated, some are less so. For example, cleanliness in some countries is far more lax than it is in the United States . A traveler can plan for and be prepared for some of these different customs. However, some differences are not so easily accounted for and not so easily accommodated by some travelers.

Some travelers often find bathroom facilities in some countries far from acceptable. In fact, in some third world countries, bathrooms, as they are understood in the United States, are nearly non-existent. In fact, in some countries, a simple hole in the ground is used for such facilities. While some people can adapt to such facilities, others simply are not able to so adapt.

Therefore, there is a need for a toilet seat that can be personalized for a particular user.

While it would make things more pleasant for a traveler, such as described above, to have a personalized toilet seat, such an item may be bulky and very inconvenient to carry. The traveler must then balance the inconvenience associated with carrying such an item against the displeasure and discomfort associated with not having such an item. However, if the toilet seat were collapsible into a form that is easy and convenient to carry, the otherwise Hobson's Choice would be made much easier.

Therefore, there is a need for a toilet seat that is collapsible and can easily be stored and carried by the user.

The above-described inconvenience issues may be exacerbated in some areas by the total absence of toilet facilities. In such cases, a traveler may have to improvise which may not be desirable in many cases. Simple inconvenience may turn into a problem if no facility is accessible or even available.

Therefore, there is a need for a portable collapsible toilet seat that is self-contained and can be used by itself.

PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a main object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat that can be personalized for a particular user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat that is collapsible and can easily be stored and carried by the user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable collapsible toilet seat that is self- contained and can be used by itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These, and other, objects are achieved by a toilet seat that can be collapsed into a storage configuration and opened into a use configuration. The seat is thus portable in the collapsed configuration. The portable toilet seat includes a body having a hole defined therethrough, telescoping legs pivotally attached to the body, bag-supporting hooks on the body, a refuse bag having hook-accommodating eyes thereon, and a carrying case. The body is made of plastic or other material that is used in toilet seats, and the legs can be metal and include releasable locks to keep them extended and in place beneath the body when the seat is in the use condition. The releasable locks are released and the legs are collapsed and folded up against the body to make the toilet seat portable. In the collapsed configuration, the seat is easily stored in a carrying case. Using the portable collapsible toilet seat embodying the present invention permits a person to have a personal toilet seat whenever they may be in a location that may use toilets that are not to the person's liking. This will free many people from the worry associated with travel, especially to countries or locations that do not have toilet facilities that resemble ones to which the traveler is accustomed. The toilet seat is collapsible and can easily be stored and carried by the user. Since the portable collapsible toilet seat embodying the present invention includes its own refuse bags, the seat can be used by itself, even if no facilities are available. This will make the toilet seat embodying the present invention very versatile. The carrying case included with the toilet seat embodying the present invention makes the seat quite portable and easily transported by a user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable collapsible toilet seat embodying the present invention in a use configuration. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the portable collapsible toilet seat taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the portable collapsible toilet seat embodying the present invention in the use configuration Figure 4 is a perspective view of a refuse bag that is used in connection with the portable collapsible toilet seat shown in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5 is a carrying case that is used in connection with the portable collapsible toilet seat shown in Figures 1-3. According to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a portable collapsible toilet seat 10. Toilet seat 10 comprises a body 12 which has a first planar surface 14 which is a top surface in a use condition of the body 12 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, a second planar surface 16 which is a bottom surface in the use condition of the body 12, and a thickness dimension 18 that extends between the first surface 14 of the body 12 and the second surface 16 of the body 12.

An oblong hole 20 is defined through the body 12 and extends from the first surface 14 of the body 12 to the second surface 16 of the body 12. The body 12 further includes a first end 22, a second end 24, and a longitudinal axis 26 which extends between the first end 22 of the body 12 and the second end 24 of the body 12.

Body 12 further includes a first side 30, a second side 32, and a transverse axis 34 which extends between the first side 30 of the body 12 and the second side 32 of the body 12.

A C-shaped projection 40 is unitary and one piece with the body 12 and is located on the first surface 14 of the body 12 adjacent to the hole 20 defined through the body 12. The C-shaped projection 40 serves as a toilet seat and is arcuate and extends from the first surface 14 of the body 12 upwardly from the first surface 14 of the body 12. C-shaped projection 40 further includes a first end 42 located adjacent to the oblong hole 20 and between the oblong hole 20 and the first end 22 of the body 12, the first end 42 of the projection 40 is arcuate. C-shaped projection 40 further includes a second end 44 located adjacent to the oblong hole 40 and between the oblong hole 40 and the first end 22 of the body 12. Second end 44 of the projection 40 is arcuate and is spaced apart from first end 42 of the projection 40 in the direction of the transverse axis 34 of the body 12. A gap 46 is defined between the first end 42 of the projection 40 and the second end 44 of the projection 40.

C-shaped projection 40 further includes a first arcuate periphery 50 located between the first side 30 of the body 12 and the second side 32 of the body 12 and the second end 24 of the body 12 and the oblong hole 20 defined through the body 12, and a second arcuate periphery 52 located to be coincident with the body 12 immediately adjacent to the hole 20 defined through the body 12.

A plurality of leg mounting elements 60 are each fixed to the second surface 16 of the body 12. The leg mounting elements 60 are identical to each other, and each leg mounting element 60 of the plurality of leg mounting elements includes a C-shaped arcuate collar 62. The collar 62 has a first edge 64 fixedly secured to the second surface 16 of the body 12 and a second edge 66 spaced apart from the second surface 16 of the body 12 in the direction of the thickness dimension 18 of the body 12.

Each collar 62 further includes a first end 68, a second end 70 spaced apart from the first end 68 of the collar 62, and a gap 72 defined between the first end 68 of the collar 62 and the second end 70 of the collar 62.

A plurality of leg elements, such as leg element 80, are identical and are located on the second surface 16 of the body 12. Each leg element 80 of the plurality of leg elements is pivotally mounted in an associated leg mounting element 60 to move between a stored orientation adjacent to the second surface 16 of the body 12 as >. indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 and a use orientation generally perpendicular to the second surface 16 of the body 12 as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Each leg element 80 includes a first hollow section 82 which has a proximal end 84 pivotally mounted in the associated leg mounting element 60 and an open distal end 86 spaced apart from the proximal end 84. Each leg element 80 further includes a second section 90 which has a proximal end 92 telescopingly accommodated in the first hollow section 82 through the open distal end 86 of the first hollow section 82 and a distal end 94 which is spaced apart from the proximal end 92 of the second section 90. The second section 90 is slidably accommodated in the first hollow section 82 to slidably move in the directions 98 and 100 indicated by double- headed arrow 102 in Figure 3 between a stored condition inside the first hollow section 82 with the distal end 94 of the second section 90 located adjacent to the distal end 86 of the first hollow section 82 and the proximal end 92 of the second section 90 located adjacent to the proximal end 84 of the first hollow section 82 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, and a deployed condition as indicated in solid lines in Figure 3 with the proximal end 92 of the second section 90 located adjacent to the distal end 86 of the first hollow section 82 and the distal end 94 of the second section 90 spaced apart from the distal end 86 of the first hollow section 82. A support surface abutting foot 110 is fixed to the distal end 94 of the second section 90 of each leg element 80.

A plurality of C-shaped bag hooks, such as hook 120, are located on the second surface 16 of the body 12. The hooks 120 are all identical to each other, and each C- shaped bag hook 120 includes a first leg 122 fixedly secured to the second surface 16 of the body 12 adjacent to the oblong hole 20 defined through the body 12 and a second leg 124 which extends in a direction away from the oblong hole 20 defined through the body 12.

A one-piece refuse bag 130 has a circular side wall - I Q -

132 with a first edge 134 which is a top edge when the bag 130 is in a use condition attached to the body 12 as indicated in Figure 3, and a second edge 136 that is a bottom edge when the bag 130 is in the use condition. Refuse bag 130 further includes a bottom wall 138 that is one-piece with the second edge 136 of the circular side wall 132. Refuse bag 130 further includes a plurality of hook-accommodating eyes, such as eye 140, defined through the circular side wall 132 adjacent to the first edge 134 of the circular side wall 132. Each hook-accommodating eye 140 of the plurality of hook-accommodating eyes is adapted to accommodate the second leg 124 of an associated C-shaped bag hook 120 when the refuse bag 130 is in the use condition. As indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, the refuse bag 130 is located adjacent to the hole 20 defined through the body 12 when the refuse bag 130 is in the use condition. Refuse bag 130 is flexible so it can be stored in packages of multiple bags. Refuse bag 130 can include a closure element 142, such as a zipper-type closure found on sandwich bags on first edge 134 so the bag 130 can be securely closed after use.

A carrying case 150 is adapted to accommodate the body 12 when the leg elements 80 are in the stored orientations thereof. The carrying case 150 can include handles, such as handle 152. It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is desired to be covered by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A portable collapsible toilet seat comprising: a) a body having

(1) a first planar surface which is a top surface in a use condition of said body,

(2) a second planar surface which is a bottom surface in the use condition of said body,

(3) a thickness dimension that extends between the first surface of said body and the second surface of said body,

(4) an oblong hole defined through said body and extending from the first surface of said body to the second surface of said body,

(5) a first end,

(6) a second end,

(7) a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of said body and the second end of said body,

(8) a first side,

(9) a second side,

(10) a transverse axis extending between the first side of said body and the second side of said body,

(11) a C-shaped projection which is unitary and one piece with said body and which is located on the first surface of said body adjacent to the hole defined through said body, the C-shaped projection being arcuate and extending from the first surface of said body upwardly from the first surface of said body, the C-shaped projection further including

(A) a first end located adjacent to the oblong hole and between the oblong hole and the first end of said body, the first end of the projection being arcuate,

(B) a second end located adjacent to the oblong hole and between the oblong hole and the first end of said body, the second end of the projection being arcuate and spaced apart from the first end of the projection in the direction of the transverse axis of said body so that a gap is defined between the first end of said projection and the second end of the projection, (C) a first arcuate periphery located between the first side of said body and the second side of said body and the second end of said body and the oblong hole defined through said body, and

(D) a second arcuate periphery located to be coincident with said body immediately adjacent to the hole defined through said body; b) a plurality of leg mounting elements fixed to the second surface of said body, each leg mounting element of said plurality of leg mounting elements including a C-shaped arcuate collar having

(1) a first edge fixedly secured to the second surface of said body,

(2) a second edge spaced apart from the second surface of said body in the direction of the thickness dimension of said body,

(3) a first end,

(4) a second end spaced apart from the first end of the collar, and

(5) a gap defined between the first end of the collar and the second end of the collar; c) a plurality of leg elements, each leg element of said plurality of leg elements being pivotally mounted in an associated leg mount to move between a stored orientation adjacent to the second surface of said body and a use orientation perpendicular to the second surface of said body, each leg element including

(1) a first hollow section having a proximal end pivotally mounted in the associated leg mounting element and an open distal end spaced apart from the proximal end,

(2) a second section having a proximal end telescopingly accommodated in the first hollow section through the open distal end of the first hollow section, and a distal end which is spaced apart from the proximal end of the second section, the second section being slidably accommodated in the first hollow section to slidably move between a stored condition inside the first hollow section with the distal end of the second section located adjacent to the distal end of the first hollow section and the proximal end of the second section located adjacent to the proximal end of the first hollow section, and a deployed condition with the proximal end of the second section located adjacent to the distal end of the first hollow section and the distal end of the second section spaced apart from the distal end of the first hollow section, and

(3) a support surface abutting foot fixed to the distal end of the second section of each leg element; d) a plurality of C-shaped bag hooks, each C- shaped bag hook including

(1) a first leg fixedly secured to the second surface of said body adjacent to the oblong hole defined through said body, and

(2) a second leg which extends in a direction away from the oblong hole defined through said body; e) a one-piece flexible refuse bag having

(1) a circular side wall with a first edge which is a top edge when said bag is in a use condition and a second edge that is a bottom edge when said bag is in the use condition,

(2) a bottom wall that is one-piece with the second edge of the circular side wall,

(3) a plurality of hook-accommodating eyes defined through the circular side wall adjacent to the first edge of the circular side wall, each hook-accommodating eye of the plurality of hook-accommodating eyes being adapted to accommodate the second leg of an associated C-shaped bag hook when said refuse bag is in the use condition,

(4) a closure element on the first edge of the side wall, and

(5) said refuse bag being located adjacent to the hole defined through said body when said refuse bag is in the use condition of said refuse bag; and f) a carrying case adapted to accommodate said body when said leg elements are in the stored orientations thereof.

2. A portable collapsible toilet seat comprising: a) a body having

(2) a second planar surface which is a bottom surface in the use condition of said body, and

(3) a hole defined through said body; b) a plurality of telescopingly collapsible legs pivotally mounted on the second surface of said body to move between a stored orientation and a use orientation; c) a plurality of bag hooks mounted on the second surface of said body adjacent to the hole defined through said body; d) a flexible refuse bag having a closure element thereon and a plurality of bag hook accommodating eyes defined therein, each bag hook accommodating eye being adapted to accommodate a bag hook when said refuse bag is in use, said refuse bag being located adjacent to the hole defined through said body when said refuse bag is in use; and e) a carrying case adapted to accommodate said body and said legs when said legs are the stored orientation.