U.S. patent application number 11/834661 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for disposable toilet hugger.
Invention is credited to Kathleen McClelland.
Application Number | 20080034485 11/834661 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39049041 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080034485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McClelland; Kathleen |
February 14, 2008 |
DISPOSABLE TOILET HUGGER
Abstract
The invention is directed to a disposable toilet hugger for the
easy collection and disposal of urine and moisture spills and drips
that occur around the base of a toilet. The apparatus consists of a
plurality of non-porous base materials with an absorbent material
mounted to the top of each base material. A user places a stack of
these materials around the base of a toilet. When the absorbent
material gets contaminated with urine or other spills, a user grabs
a pull tab and removes and disposes of the top absorbent material
and non-porous base layer, thereby exposing anew, unsoiled
absorbent material for the next spill.
Inventors: |
McClelland; Kathleen; (Fox
Lake, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN K. MCCORMICK
6781 GLACIER DRIVE
WEST BEND
WI
53090
US
|
Family ID: |
39049041 |
Appl. No.: |
11/834661 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60821948 |
Aug 9, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/300 ;
4/661 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/300 ;
004/661 |
International
Class: |
E03D 9/00 20060101
E03D009/00; A47K 17/00 20060101 A47K017/00 |
Claims
1. A disposable toilet bowl floor mat comprising: a non-porous
backing and an absorbent material mounted to the top of said
non-porous backing.
2. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said absorbent material is
colored for an esthetic appearance.
3. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said absorbent material is
textured.
4. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said absorbent material is
formed of materials selected from the group of materials consisting
of absorbent paper, absorbent cotton and absorbent cloth.
5. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said non-porous backing is
formed of materials selected from the group of materials consisting
of flexible plastic, rubber and wax paper.
6. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said mat wraps around the
backside of a toilet.
7. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said map wraps halfway
around the base of a toilet.
8. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said absorbent material
includes a deodorizing agent.
9. The disposable mat of claim 1 wherein said absorbent material
includes a disinfecting agent.
10. The disposable mat of any one of claims 1 through 9 wherein
there are a plurality of said mats stacked one on top of each other
such that a user places a stack of said mats around a base of a
toilet, the top mat of said stack absorbing any liquid falling on
the top of said top mat and not passing through to the second layer
of said stack of mats, said user removing said top mat of said
stack when said top mat becomes contaminated with said liquid and
disposing of said top mat thereby leaving a new and unused top mat
around said toilet base.
11. A means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean and
sanitary comprising: placing a stack of disposable toilet mats
around the base of said toilet; a single said toilet mat consisting
of a non-porous backing and an absorbent top layer material; a
means for removing the top toilet mat from said toilet mat stack
when said top toilet mat becomes soiled thereby exposing an
unsoiled top toilet mat around the base of said toilet; and
disposing of said soiled toilet mat.
12. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said absorbent material
is colored for an esthetic appearance.
13. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said absorbent material
is textured.
14. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said absorbent material
is formed of materials selected from the group of materials
consisting of absorbent paper, absorbent cotton and absorbent
cloth.
15. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said non-porous backing
is formed of materials selected from the group of materials
consisting of flexible plastic, rubber and wax paper.
16. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said mat wraps around
the backside of said toilet.
17. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said map wraps halfway
around the base of said toilet.
18. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said absorbent material
includes a means for keeping said toilet mats deodorized.
19. The means for keeping the area at the base of a toilet clean
and sanitary according to claim 11 wherein said absorbent material
includes a means for keeping said toilet mats disinfected.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefits of 60/821,948, filed
Aug. 9, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a disposable absorbent material
with a non-porous backing to be placed at the base of a toilet in
order to catch urine misses, spills, drips and the like for a
clean, odor free condition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With the advent of indoor plumbing came the indoor bathroom,
typically comprising a bathtub and/or shower, a sink, mirror,
medicine cabinet and a toilet. Most toilets in use today consist of
a receptacle bowl with a seat and lid, and a water holding tank.
After an individual deposits their bodily wastes into the
receptacle bowl, the toilet is then flushed by operating a lever on
the holding tank which allows the water in the tank to drain into
the receptacle bowl and away into the septic or sewer system. A
float system within the holding tank then allows cold water to
refill the holding tank for the next usage.
[0004] The cold water that fills the holding tank is typical in the
fifty (50) to sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit range. As such, as the
cold water fills the holding tank, it chills the holding tank. As
the air in the bathroom is typically warmer than the cold water,
the humidity in the air condenses on the tank and bowl causing the
tank to "sweat". This results in water dripping down to the base of
the toilet. This condition is further exacerbated when a person
utilizes the bathtub or shower for cleaning themselves as
additional moisture is added to the bathroom air which then
condenses on the tank and bowl quicker. This moist and warm
environment is an ideal breeding ground for unwanted germs and
bacteria.
[0005] In addition, children and adults that are easily distracted,
have poor aim, or have medical or neurological disabilities can,
and do, miss the bowl when they are urinating, thereby leaving
urine on the floor next to the toilet bowl. While there exists
traditional rubber or plastic backed rug style bath mats and toilet
bowl surrounds, these can hide the drips and misses until the user
notices the smell of urine or mold in the bathroom. This in turn
necessitates the washing of the surrounds and mats and the
scrubbing and cleaning of the bathroom floor. If the area is
neglected for long periods of time, the combination of urine, water
and warm air proves a fertile area for bacteria, germ and mold
growth
[0006] Thus, what is needed is a more immediate, simpler and cost
effective means for means for cleaning up urine drips, misses,
spills and water condensation on the floor surrounding the
toilet.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of this invention to keep the area
at the base of the toilet in a clean, odor-free and sanitary
condition in-between cleaning cycles.
[0008] It is a further object of this invention to provide a quick
and effortless way to keep the area at the base of the toilet
clean, odor-free and in a sanitary condition.
[0009] It is still a further object of this invention to provide a
very cost effective way to keep the area at the base of the toilet
in a clean, odor-free and sanitary condition.
[0010] These objects can be accomplished with a plurality of
stacked disposable absorbent papers shaped to fit around the base
of a toilet, similar to the existing toilet rugs. The back side of
each absorbent paper being lined with a wax, plastic or other
non-porous material to prevent any liquid from passing through the
top absorbent paper to the next lower absorbent paper. The
absorbent paper can include a deodorizing agent and/or biocide.
[0011] In use, an individual would place the stack of absorbent
papers at the base of the toilet. When a user drips or misses and
urine falls onto the top absorbent paper, or when water condensate
drips onto the absorbent paper, the individual simply grabs a tab
on the top absorbent paper, pulls the soiled sheet free, thereby
exposing a new unsoiled absorbent sheet, and disposes of the soiled
sheet in the garbage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Some of the objects and advantages of this invention have
been set forth, other advantages and details of this invention and
a preferred embodiment thereof may be seen from the more detailed
description to follow, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of the present
invention as depicted in use around a toilet;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single layer of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side planar view of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the multilayered
disposable toilet hugger 1 is depicted surrounding the base of a
toilet 2. The toilet 2 consists of bowl 3, a tank 4, a toilet seat
5, a toilet seat lid 6, a cold water inlet tube 7 and a flush
handle 8.
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a single layer of the multilayered disposable
toilet hugger 1. A single layer of the multilayered disposable
toilet hugger consists of a base layer 9. The base layer 9 being
made of a non-porous material such as plastic, rubber, wax paper or
the like to prevent any liquids falling on the disposable toilet
hugger 1 from passing through the non-porous base layer 9. Attached
to the top side of the base layer 9 is a disposable absorbent
material 10 such as absorbent cotton, absorbent cloth, absorbent
paper such as is utilized in panty liners, disposable diapers or
the like. The absorbent material 10 deodorizing agents or biocides
impregnated in the absorbent material 10 in order to reduce or
manage odors and contaminants such as mold or the like. The top
surface of the absorbent material 10 can be textured or patterned
for an esthetic appearance if desired. In addition, the absorbent
material 10 can be colored in a multitude of colors in order to
provide an esthetic appearance suitable for the decorated colors of
the bathroom the disposable toilet hugger 1 is to be utilized
in.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the disposable toilet hugger 1 has a
cutout 11 for the base of the toilet 2 and an opening slot 12 at
the rear of the disposable toilet hugger 1 that allows a user to
easily wrap the disposable toilet hugger 1 around the base of a
toilet 2. The disposable toilet hugger 1 includes a pull tab
13.
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts a disposable toilet hugger 1 having a
non-porous base layer 9, an absorbent material 10 attached to the
base layer 9, a cutout 11 for the toilet base and the pull tab 13.
In this design, the toilet hugger 1 does not wrap around the
backside of the base of the toilet, but rather stops partway around
the sides of the toilet base similar to existing rug style toilet
huggers. Other shapes or patterns of the disposable toilet hugger
are considered part and parcel to the description included herein
and are considered to be part of the scope of the invention and
disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 4 depicts a side planar view of the disposable toilet
hugger 1. As depicted, there are a plurality of individual
disposable toilet huggers attached vertically on top of each other
as indicated by the multiple non-porous base layers 9 and absorbent
materials 10. The number of toilet huggers in a given stack would
depend upon the thickness of the base layers and absorbent
materials so as not to create an unaesthetic appearance.
[0022] In use, a user would place the disposable toilet hugger 1
stack around the base of the toilet 2. If and when the top level
disposable toilet hugger becomes soiled with water condensation,
urine or other contaminants, the user grabs the pull tab 13 on the
disposable toilet hugger 1 and peels the top soiled toilet hugger 1
away from the remaining toilet hugger stack, thereby revealing an
unsoiled disposable toilet hugger 1, and disposes of the soiled
toilet hugger 1.
[0023] Although the present invention has been described with the
respects for a disposable toilet hugger, the claimed invention may
be easily adapted for any area that comes into sporadic or
intermittent contamination from a liquid source such as a cleaning
area or food preparation area. Further, although this invention has
been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments
thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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