Abstract:
A protective covering for a toilet seat and toilet bowl is described, which prevents bodily contact with potentially germ-infected or wet surface areas of a toilet seat and a toilet bowl. The toilet seat and toilet bowl covering disclosed herein is particularly suitable for use by small children and is readily adaptable to accommodate toilet seats and toilet bowls of varying sizes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to toilet covers and, more particularly, to a sanitary device for covering a toilet seat and at least the front and side portions of a toilet bowl, effectively eliminating all bodily contact with the surface areas of the toilet seat and toilet bowl. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Public toilets are a haven for germs and bacteria. Among the germs sometimes found in public restrooms, are  streptococcus, staphylococcus , and  E. coli  bacteria, hepatitis A virus, the common cold virus, and even various sexually transmitted organisms. Using public toilets is especially problematic for small children, who often grasp the sides of the toilet to lift themselves onto the seat or rest their hands on the toilet seat and bowl for balance. These facts makes most mothers cringe when they are away from home and hear their child say “Mommy, I need to potty.” Also, unlike adults, children&#39;s legs often rest on the front or side surfaces of the toilet bowl when they are seated on the toilet, further increasing their contact with germs and bacteria. 
     Current toilet covers are limited in that they do not provide sufficient coverage to prevent bodily contact with potentially germ-infected surface areas of a toilet—particularly, the toilet seat and toilet bowl. Indeed, the typical toilet cover is designed to cover only the toilet seat and even that coverage is insufficient in that the cover is usually made of a thin paper material that does not fit the toilet seat securely. 
     Paper covers, which are cut in the shape of a standard toilet seat, tend to slide across or even off the toilet seat when someone attempts to sit on the toilet. They also tear easily and do not provide an effective barrier against wetness or other matter that may have splashed or fallen onto the toilet seat and toilet bowl. 
     Even existing toilet seat covers that protect against wetness, fail to protect against wetness and germs that may be found on the outer surface of the toilet bowl. 
     There exists, therefore, a need for a disposable toilet cover that fits both a toilet seat and toilet bowl securely; that effectively protects against bodily contact with potentially germ-infected surfaces of the toilet seat and toilet bowl; and that is specifically suitable for use by small children. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention embodied and broadly described herein is a protective covering that fits both a toilet seat and toilet bowl securely, and that protects against bodily contact with potentially germ-infected surface areas of the toilet seat and toilet bowl. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a continuous covering, sized to substantially cover both the toilet seat and the front and side surface areas of the toilet bowl, is secured about the rear of the toilet seat and extends about the base of the toilet bowl—along the front, left, and right sides of the bowl. In one embodiment, the covering is secured to the toilet seat and the toilet bowl using a securing element, such as elastic, affixed about the outer periphery of the covering. However, it is contemplated that a variety of different securing elements may be used. The toilet seat and toilet bowl covering also includes an opening that aligns atop the opening in a toilet seat, when the covering is secured to the toilet seat and the toilet bowl. In an exemplary embodiment, the covering is made of a durable material that provides a protective barrier against wetness and is adaptable to be secured about toilet seats and toilet bowls of varying sizes. 
     To enable a further understanding of the objectives of this invention, a brief description of the drawings is provided below, followed by a detailed description of various embodiments. It is to be understood that both the foregoing and the following descriptions are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the claimed invention in any manner whatsoever. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, exemplify certain aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain some of the principles associated with the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the toilet seat and toilet bowl cover secured to a toilet seat and toilet bowl. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the first embodiment of the toilet seat and toilet bowl cover. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the toilet seat and toilet bowl cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     The disposable protective toilet seat and toilet bowl cover shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a continuous covering  10 , sized to substantially cover both the toilet seat and at least the front and side portions of the toilet bowl; and at least one securing element  15  affixed along the periphery of the covering  10 , securing the covering  10  snugly and securely about the rear of the toilet seat and about the left, right and front base of the toilet bowl. The covering  10 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 , further comprises at least one opening  20  that aligns atop the opening in the toilet seat when the covering  10  is secured to the toilet seat and toilet bowl. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an alternate embodiment, wherein the disposable protective toilet seat and toilet bowl cover comprises at least one toilet seat piece  30  sized to substantially cover a toilet seat and at least one toilet bowl piece  32 , sized to substantially cover at least the front and side portions of the toilet bowl. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the outer periphery of the toilet seat piece  30  is affixed to the upper edge of the toilet bowl piece  32 , forming a single covering  10  sized to substantially cover both the toilet seat and at least the front and side portions of the toilet bowl. At least one securing element  15  is affixed along the lower edge of the toilet bowl piece  32 , securing the covering  10  to snugly about the rear of the toilet seat and about the left, right and front base of the toilet bowl. The toilet seat piece  30  includes at least one opening  20  that aligns atop the opening in the toilet seat when the covering  10  is secured to the toilet seat and toilet bowl, wherein the opening  20  is smaller than the opening in the toilet seat. 
     The covering  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , may be manufactured using materials having a laminate construction comprising at least two layers—an absorbent top layer that and a liquid impervious underside. The top layer may be paper or other fibrous material. The bottom layer may be a thin plastic or other liquid impervious material that prevents bodily contact with any moisture or wetness on the toilet seat and toilet bowl. In other embodiments, the covering  10  may have a single layer construction, comprising, for example, a single layer of plastic, paper, fabric or other material. Additionally, the top surface of the covering  10 , whether multi- or single-layered, may be decoratively colored, and logos, slogans, or other artistic designs may be printed thereon. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the toilet seat and toilet bowl covering  10  covers both the toilet seat and the front and side surface areas of the toilet bowl. In one embodiment ( FIG. 1 ), a securing element  15 , affixed along the periphery of the covering  10 , secures the covering  10  about the rear of the toilet seat and about the left, right and front base of the toilet bowl. In another embodiment ( FIG. 3 ), a securing element  15 , affixed along the bottom edge of the toilet bowl piece  32 , secures the covering  10  about the rear of the toilet seat and about the left, right and front base of the toilet bowl. The securing element  15  embodied in  FIG. 1  may comprise a continuous piece of elastic attached along the outer periphery of the covering  10 . The elasticized periphery may then be secured about the rear of the toilet seat and about the sides and front base of the toilet bowl. Positioning the elasticized periphery below the curvature of the toilet bowl better secures the covering  10 . It is contemplated that a variety of different securing elements  15  may be used to secure the covering  10  to the toilet seat and toilet bowl, including, but not limited to, any rubber-like material, a Lycra-type band, temporary adhesives, Velcro or string. Each of these may be affixed about or near the periphery of the covering  10 . Although  FIG. 1  shows a continuous covering  10 , one skilled in the art will readily understand how to adapt the securing element  15  to a covering  10  that is formed by joining together a toilet seat piece  30  and at least one toilet bowl piece  32 , such as the covering  10  depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     When the covering  10  is properly secured to the toilet seat and toilet bowl, the opening  20  in the covering  10  aligns atop the opening in the toilet seat. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the opening  20  may comprise a pre-cut circular or ovular hole. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening  20  may be reinforced by a ring of material to strengthen the opening  20  so that it maintains a circular or oval-like shape when the covering  10  is secured about the toilet seat and toilet bowl. The reinforcement ring  21  may be formed by materials including, but not limited to, various plastics, cardboard, elastic or any other strengthening material. In embodiments in which the covering  10  is made of paper, or like material, the opening  20  may comprise a circular or ovular perforation that may be easily torn away from the covering  10 . The opening  20  depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3  may be further adapted for use by males, particularly male toddlers, by enlarging or making the opening  20  more elongated toward the front of the toilet seat. 
     It is contemplated that the toilet seat and toilet bowl cover of this invention may be manufactured in a variety of different dimensions to accommodate toilet seats and toilet bowls of varying sizes. 
     The present invention has been described in relation to particular examples, which are intended in all aspects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from the essential scope or spirit thereof. 
     Moreover, other implementations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the examples be considered as exemplary only. To this end, it is to be understood that inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed implementation. Thus, the true scope and spirit of the invention is indicated by the following claims.