Abstract:
The present invention relates to a child&#39;s potty-training apparatus having a means to play audible recordings. The recordings can be college fight songs or cheers, professional sports team songs or cheers, crowd cheers, or car engine sounds. The potty-training apparatus of the invention can also be personalized by the application of appliqués, computer printouts, drawings, photographs, decals, stickers, trading cards and artwork.

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a child&#39;s potty-training apparatus having a means to play audible recordings. The recordings can be college fight songs or cheers, professional sports team songs or cheers, crowd cheers or car engine sounds. The potty-training apparatus or the invention can also be personalized by the application of appliqués, computer printouts, drawings, photographs, decals, stickers, trading cards and artwork. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are other potty training devices designed for children, some of which can play music or other audible sounds. U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,764 describes portable infant&#39;s dry closet which comprises a music box that is activated when the seat is occupied by depression of a trip rod. U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,478 describes a toilet training chair having legs, arms, a back, and a seat with an enlarged aperture, wherein when weight is added to the bowl, the bowl moves an actuator member to initiate a light. U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,544 relates to an infant training stool having a bed pan rockably carried therein and music box mounted in the base portion of the stool. The weight of the infant lowers a stopper rod, allowing the music box to play. U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,964 relates to a potty chair for toilet training children and of the type having an automatic speech and tune producing capability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,405 relates to a training device for entertaining and encouraging a person to sit comfortably for a period of time while toilet training, which comprises an electrically powered music box is attached to the chair for producing a musical tune, which is manually activated using an electrical switch. 
         [0003]    Additional patents relating to potty-training apparatuses for children that encourage use by rewarding a child with music, lights, sounds or other rewards. These patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,518,405; 5,537,695; 5,560,051; 5,652,975; 5,781,939; 5,870,015; 5,978,976; 5,926,864; 6,037,871; 6,038,711; 6,282,732; 6,417,773 B1; 6,698,036 B2; 6,772,454 B1; 6,829,788 B1; 6,937,155 B2; 7,137,820 B1; 7,237,278 B1 and 7,290,296. 
         [0004]    While these pony-training apparatuses may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, the instant child&#39;s potty-training apparatus encourages a child to use the potty-training apparatus by the use of sports-related themes, music, and cheering. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, the invention relates to a potty-training apparatus comprising a toilet comprising a bowl and a seat; a receptacle being disposed in the bowl for receiving waste; electrical components for playing an audio output; an actuation device operably connected to the electrical components; wherein when the actuation device is activated, the audio output is played. 
         [0006]    The audio output may be a college cheer or fight song, a professional baseball team cheer or song, a professional football team cheer or song, a professional basketball team cheer or song, a professional hockey team cheer or song, a professional soccer team cheer or song, a professional racing team cheer, song or engine sounds, or crowd cheering sounds. Alternatively, the audio output can be recorded by an end user. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the invention relates to a potty-training apparatus comprising a toilet comprising a base and a seat; a receptacle or bowl being disposed in the seat  120  for receiving waste. The child potty-training apparatus of the invention also comprises one or more housings for receiving personalized information. The housings can be any known container or enclosure for the personalized information, and can be complete or partial. 
         [0008]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages are included within this description, are within the scope of the invention, and are protected by the accompanying claims. Accordingly, the present invention is not restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of the child potty-training apparatus of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a back perspective view of the child potty-training apparatus of the invention. This view shows the audio output means and the operably connected actuation device, which activates the audio playback. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts the base of die child potty-training apparatus onto which a seat fits. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts the removable seat of the child potty-training apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts the removable receptacle, or bowl, of the child potty-training apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The invention relates to a child potty-training apparatus with several features. The apparatus of the invention has removable receptacle and bowl for easy cleaning after use, a removable seat, and a sound feature which can be activated by an actuation device. Pre-recorded cheering and fight songs or cheers from various sports teams commence upon actuation. The actuation device can be, but is not limited to a button, a touch pad, a switch, or a touchless pad. Activation of the audio output is a reward, which encourages children to use the apparatus. 
         [0016]    The cheers as described may be orchestrated, synchronized cheers, such as those chanted by cheerleaders during sporting events. Cheers may also be the noise made by a crowd, which includes applause and verbal approval sounds. 
         [0017]    The cheers and fight songs can be college or university cheers or fight songs. The cheers and fight songs may also relate to professional sports teams, such as professional baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and basketball teams. The child potty-training apparatus can also feature the colors and logos of the college or university, or of the professional sports team. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the invention relates to a potty-training apparatus  100  comprising a toilet comprising a base  110  and a seat  120 ; a receptacle or bowl  130  being disposed in the seat  120  for receiving waste; electrical components  210  for playing an audio output; an actuation device  140  operably connected to the electrical components  210 ; wherein when the actuation device is activated, the audio output is played. 
         [0019]    The audio output may be a college cheer or fight song, a professional baseball team cheer or song, a professional football team cheer or song, a professional basketball team cheer or song, a professional hockey team cheer or song, a professional soccer team cheer or song, a professional racing team cheer, song or engine sounds, or crowd cheering sounds. Alternatively, the audio output can be recorded by an end user using an audio recording device. 
         [0020]    The invention also relates to a potty-training apparatus  100  comprising a toilet comprising a base  110  and a seat  120 ; a receptacle or bowl  130  being disposed in the seat  120  for receiving waste; electrical components  210  for playing an audio output; an actuation device  140  operably connected to the electrical components  210 ; wherein when the actuation device is activated, the audio output is played, wherein the audio output comprises a college cheer or fight song. 
         [0021]    The invention also relates to a potty-training apparatus  100  comprising a toilet comprising a base  110  and a seat  120 ; a receptacle or bowl  130  being disposed in the seat  120  for receiving waste; electrical components  210  for playing an audio output; an actuation device  140  operably connected to the electrical components  210 ; wherein when the actuation device is activated, the audio output is played, wherein the audio output comprises a professional baseball team cheer or song, a professional football team cheer or song, a professional basketball team cheer or song, a professional hockey team cheer or song, a professional soccer team cheer or song, or a professional racing team cheer a professional racing team cheer, song or engine sounds, or crowd cheering sounds. 
         [0022]    The child potty-training apparatus of the invention may further comprise one ore more housings for receiving personalized information. The personalized information may be selected from the group consisting of appliqués, computer printouts, drawings, photographs, decals, stickers, trading cards, and artwork. The personalized information may be a college logo, a professional baseball team logo or player number, a professional football team logo or player number, a professional basketball team logo or number, a professional hockey team logo or number, a professional soccer team logo, or a professional racing team logo or number. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the invention relates to a potty-training apparatus  100  comprising a toilet comprising a base  110  and a seat  120 ; a receptacle or bowl  130  being disposed in the seat  120  for receiving waste. The child potty-training apparatus of the invention comprises one or more housings for receiving personalized information. The personalized information may be selected from the group consisting of appliqués, computer printouts, drawings, photographs, decals, stickers, trading cards, and artwork. The personalized information may be a college logo, a professional baseball team logo or player number, a professional football team logo or player number, a professional basketball team logo or number, a professional hockey team logo or number, a professional soccer team logo, or a professional racing team logo or number. 
         [0024]    The apparatus of the invention may be manufactured using anti-microbial additives in order to prevent infection in the user of the apparatus. Materials that are resistant to dirt and body fluids may be used in the manufacture of the potty-training apparatus. 
         [0025]    When the base of the apparatus is flipped over, the child potty-training apparatus may also be used as a step-stool. A child can stand on the stool in order to reach a tap where his/her hands can be washed, or to reach objects out of his/her reach. In addition, the seat  120  of the child potty-training apparatus can also be removed and placed on a conventional toilet as the child grows older and becomes accustomed to the potty-training apparatus. 
         [0026]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that such disclosures have been presented by way of example only, and are not limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
         [0027]    Having now fully described the invention, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the same may be performed within a wide and equivalent range of conditions, formulations and other parameters without affecting the scope of the invention or any embodiment thereof. All patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are fully incorporated by reference in their entirety.