Abstract:
A disposal liner for a toddler potty trainer seat having an elongated member adapted to wick moisture and change color as it becomes moist. The visual effect of a firework is created which captures the toddler&#39;s attention and creates an interesting visual effect.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/859,419 filed Jun. 1, 2004 entitled “TODDLER TOILET TRAINER AND METHOD”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,050 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/548,442, Sharp, filed Feb. 27, 2004, entitled “Liner For Toddler Potty Trainer Seats”, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Toilet training for toddlers typically involves the use of a waste receiving seat construction. In a conventional training seat, there is provided a base which is received and supported on an underlying surface. The base is provided with a guide which receives and positions a waste receiving container. The seat is removably supportable on the base and is provided with a waste directing aperture which is aligned with the waste receiving container.  
         [0003]     Using the toddler potty trainer seat, the toddler is trained to “go to the bathroom” on the seat. When the activity is completed the seat is disengaged from the base and the waste receiving container is utilized to transport the waste to a conventional toilet for disposal. Thereafter it is necessary to carefully clean the waste receiving container prior to reuse.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A disposal liner for a toddler potty trainer seat having an elongated member adapted to wick moisture and change color as it becomes moist. The visual effect of a firework is created which captures the toddler&#39;s attention and creates an interesting visual effect.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     Advantages of the present invention and the specific embodiments will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description of the present invention taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view illustrating the use of the liner of the present invention for waste containers of toddler potty trainer seats;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the liner of the present invention in which certain parts have been broken away more clearly to illustrate certain features of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the first embodiment of the liner of the present invention following use and secured for disposal;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the liner of the present invention with the elastic upper edge folded over;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the liner of the present invention as placed in waste receiving container, showing a star motif on the interior of the liner;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the liner of the present invention with the elastic upper edge unfolded;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the second embodiment liner of the present invention following use and secured for disposal; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective cutaway view of another embodiment of the present invention including an elongated member adapted to wick moisture from a motif to another motif and change color when moistened.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The numerous innovative teachings of the present invention will be described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that the embodiments described provide only a few examples of the many advantageous uses and innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features, but not to others.  
         [0015]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown a typical toddler potty trainer seat  100 . The toddler potty trainer seat  100  includes a base  101  which may be weighted to prevent tipping. The base  101  includes a guide  102  adapted to receive and position a waste receiving container  104 . To this end the guide  102  is provided with a positioning detent  103 .  
         [0016]     The toddler potty trainer seat  100  further includes a waste receiving container  104  having an upper edge or lip  105 . The waste receiving container  104  is received in the guide  102  and is provided with a projection  106  which is received in the detent  103  of the guide  102  to assure the proper positioning of the container  104 . The container  104  may be provided with a pouring spout  107 . A handle  108  may be provided for use in manipulating the waste receiving container  104 .  
         [0017]     A seat  109  completes the construction of the toddler potty trainer seat  100 . The seat  109  includes a back  110 , arms  111 , and a platform  112  which is removably secured on the base  101 . The platform  112  is provided with a waste directing aperture  113  which is aligned with the waste receiving container  104  when the container  104  is positioned in the guide  102  of the base  101  and the seat  109  is engaged with the base  101 .  
         [0018]     As is well known to those skilled in the art, waste resulting from use of the toddler potty trainer seat  100  may be received directly in the waste receiving container  104 . In such instances the container  104  is utilized to transport the waste to a conventional toilet for disposal. Thereafter, the waste receiving container  104  must be thoroughly washed prior to reuse.  
         [0019]     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a liner  200  for use in conjunction with the waste receiving container  104  of the toddler potty trainer seat  100 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of the liner  200  comprises a liquid impervious outer shell  201  which may be formed from a suitable plastic film material. The exterior dimensions of the shell  201  are closely matched to the interior dimensions of the waste receiving container in which the liner  200  will be utilized. An elastic band  202  is provided at the upper edge of the liquid impervious outer shell  201 . The stretchable elastic band  202  receives the upper edge or lip  105  of the container  104  to secure the liner  200  in engagement with the container  104 .  
         [0020]     The liner  200  is provided with a liquid absorbent retaining layer  203 . The liquid retaining layer  203  may be formed from a foam material, or from a fibrous material depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention. The thickness of the absorbent liquid retaining layer  203  may be greater in the region of the bottom of the liner  102  as compared with the thickness of the layer  203  in the side walls of the liner  200 . The liner  200  further comprises an inner layer  204  formed from a material that allows liquid to pass directly there-through into the liquid retaining layer  203 . Preferably the layer  204  is constructed so as to provide an indicia when the liner has received liquid. For example, the layer  204  may be decorated in an appropriate motif, such as cartoon characters or designs, if desired. The motif may be slightly visible or invisible, or have a first color, when the liner has not had a liquid incident thereon. However, the motif may darken, become visible, or change to a second color, when a liquid is flows through layer  204  and is incident on layer  203 . In this manner, one can view the interior of liner  200  and determine whether liner  200  requires replacement. A slit  205  may be formed through the layers comprising the liner  202  for receiving the handle  108  of the waste receiving container  104 . A retaining tab  206  is secured to the exterior of the liquid impervious outer shell  201  of the liner  200 .  
         [0021]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the retaining tab  206  is adapted to secure the liner  200  in a closed configuration following the receipt of waste therein. In this manner disposal of the liner  200  with waste retained therein is facilitated. The retaining tab may have coupled thereto a hook and loop fastening mechanism or single or double sided reusable tape or adhesive.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the liner  400  of the present invention with the elastic upper edge  401  folded over. As seen therein, instead of a slit through which the handle  108  is inserted, a pair of tabs,  402  and  403 , having a fastening mechanism coupled thereto, such as an adhesive or single or double sided tape, which may have a binding characteristic making it reusable, on one tab aposition the other tab, or a hook mechanism on one tab aposition a loop mechanism on the other tab (e.g., Velcro(r)), are provided. In this manner, the tabs,  402 ,  403 , when apart, are disposed under the handle of the waste container, then overlap with each other, allowing the tabs to be coupled thereunder to each other in one embodiment, and, in a further embodiment, to the outer wall of the waste container. For example, one or both of the tabs  402 ,  403  may have a fastening mechanism aposition the outer wall of the waste container. If the fastening mechanism is an adhesive or reusable tape, then no specific coupling mechanism is needed on the outer wall of the waste container. However, the outer wall of waste container may be treated so as to allow the adhesive or tape to be easily removed therefrom. The tabs can be coupled to each other and then to the outer wall of the waste container, or each can be individually coupled to the outer wall of the waste container. The foregoing fastening mechanism is adapted to provide a more secure fit of the liner  400  to the waste container in combination with the elastic edge  401  of liner  400  around the lip  105  of waste container  104 . A further coupling mechanism, such as adhesive portion  404 , can be placed on the opposing side of each tab aposition the waste container wall, to facilitate the leak proof securing of the liner  400  after it has been used, as seen in  FIG. 7 . As seen therein, the tape or adhesive  404  is on the inside of the liner  400  when the edge  401  is in the unfolded position. The tape of adhesive  404  is on the outside of the liner  400  when the edge is folded over, as seen in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the liner of the present invention as placed in waste receiving container  104 , showing a star motif  501  on the interior of the liner  400 . As previously discussed, the motif may be slightly visible or substantially invisible, or a certain color, when the liner has not had a liquid incident thereon. However, the motif may darken, become visible, or change to a second color, when a liquid is incident on the liner  400 . This mechanism can be implemented using a substantially opaque liquid absorbent layer  204  over the absorbent layer  203 . The layer  204  or absorbent layer  203  has imprinted therein, the figures of the motif. When a liquid is incident on the liquid absorbent layer  204 , the substantially opaque surface may become substantially translucent or transparent. Alternatively, an ink can be used on either layer  204  or  203  that is adapted to change colors or darken in a chemical reaction when a liquid of a certain composition is incident thereon. In this manner, one can view the interior of the liner and, depending on the status of the motif, determine whether the liner requires replacement. The use of a motif that is appealing to a toddler can also be used to provide positive reinforcement to the child. In order to view the motif, the child must first use the training seat. As further seen in  FIG. 5 , tabs  402 ,  403  are disposed under handle  502  of waste container  104  and coupled to each other.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the liner  400  of the present invention with the elastic upper edge  401  unfolded to show adhesive tape portions  601 ,  602  on tabs  403 ,  402 , respectively.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the second embodiment of the liner  400  of the present invention having been secured for disposal. As seen therein, adhesive portions  404  on tabs  402 ,  403 , after being removed from the waste container  104 , can be used to secure the liner  400  for no-leak disposal.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown generally at  800  a liner according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Liner  800  is seen to be similar to the liner  200  shown in  FIG. 2 , and includes the additional feature of an elongated member  802  extending from at least one motif, such as the center motif  804  or other motifs  501 , and change color when moistened. For instance, the elongated member  802  may comprise of one or more threads impregnated with a dye, such as stitching, or comprise of another material adapted to change color when moistened. Member  802  extends proximate the center motif  804  such that when a child wettens the bottom portion of the liner  800 , the wetness will be wicked by member  802  radially outward, and also upwardly up the sidewall to other motifs  501 , as shown. This creates the visual effect of a firework, whereby the member  802  changes color as it is wettened to create a changing effect of color as it becomes wet in the radial direction. In contrast to liners that may have a visual motif, a child will become more interested in focusing his attention into the liner with the expectation of the visual effect creating a colored pattern that moves/radiates over time as moisture wicks along the member  802 .  
         [0027]     A preferred embodiment for member  802  comprises a thread, or stitching, but also may comprise of the liner surface being treated along an elongated portion from motif  804  to change color when moisture is wicked therealong. For instance, the elongated member  802  may have a higher rate of liquid absorption than the liner proximate thereof such that moisture can wick radially outward at a faster rate than it can along the liner itself.  
         [0028]     Also shown in  FIG. 8  are additional portions  806  that are disposed along the length of the elongated member  802 , which members have a larger surface area than the elongated members  802  to accelerate the wicking of moisture from motif  804 , and to the motif  501 . This accelerated moisture wicking will accumulate at member  806 , and then further extend along the member  802  to the sidewall motifs  501 , as shown.  
         [0029]     The invention achieves technical advantages by both dynamically changing color when wettened, and further by radially wicking moisture along a member which changes colors, in contrast to the liner disposed proximate the elongated member  802 . The visual appearance of a radially extending visual design holds the attention of a child who otherwise may become less focused on getting the job done right.  
         [0030]     The use of the disclosed embodiments of the liner of the present invention is advantageous in that it facilitates utilization of a toddler potty trainer seat in locations which are remote from a conventional toilet. The use of the liner of the present invention is further advantageous in that it eliminates the need to thoroughly wash the waste receiving container of a toddler potty trainer seat following each use thereof. The use of the present invention provides positive reinforcement to the toddler, which lessens the time and effort necessary to toilet train the toddler. The use of the liner of the present invention decreases or eliminates the need to continually clean the waste container, improves the sanitary condition of the waste container and areas proximate thereto  
         [0031]     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions in parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, any number of fastening mechanisms on the tabs of the liner can be used to accomplish the objectives of restraining the liner to the waste container, and thereafter can be used to secure the liner for disposal. Further, any number of motifs, such as cartoon characters or appealing designs, in the liner can be used to serve to motivate use of the trainer by the toddler and serve as an indicia that the liner needs to be replaced.