Toilet seat cover and heat insulator therefor

A toilet seat cover made from expanded polymer foam sheet material has an elastic tape secured to the curved edges of the cover with no tape secured to the rear flat edge. The cover is held on a toilet seat by the elastic curved edges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The field of the invention is baths, closets, etc., and the invention is 
particularly concerned with covers for toilet seats. 
The state of the art of toilet seat covers may be ascertained by reference 
to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,102,276; 3,348,243; and 4,227,267, the disclosures of 
which are incorporated herein by reference. 
It can be seen from the state of the art that toilet seat covers of paper 
and plastic have been provided for purposes of sanitation. An inexpensive 
toilet seat cover for the purpose of thermal insulation, however, has not 
been provided by the prior art. By personal experience the ordinary person 
knows the need for thermal insulation from cold toilet seats. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Having in mind the limitations of the prior art it is an object of the 
present invention to provide a toilet seat cover which provides thermal 
insulation from cold toilet seats and acts as a toilet seat warmer. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary seat 
cover. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive 
toilet seat cover. 
These objects are achieved by a toilet seat cover of polyethylene foam 
having a thickness of 1/8th inch. 
Because of the expanded polymer foam the toilet seat cover provides 
insulation from the coldness of the toilet seat and also provides some 
cushioning for comfort. The 1/8th inch thickness is thin enough to allow 
the toilet seat to be raised and stay without continuously falling back 
down and still serves adequate protection from the cold. 
Around the outer edge of the cover, except for the back straight edge, 
there is a piece of polyester elastic 11/4 inches wide and 531/2 inches 
long sewn to the edge. This is done in order to fasten the toilet seat 
warmer to the toilet seat. The elastic is 88% polyester and 12% rubber. 
The elastic is wrapped around both sides of the expanded polymer foam and 
can be sewn in a zig zag fashion. Nylon elastic thread comprising 38% 
nylon, 37% rubber, and 25% polyester is useful for sewing the elastic. 
The toilet seat warmer is attached by streatching it over the outside of 
the toilet seat. 
An inner oval circle is cut out and left plain. 
The back straight edge overhang is tucked down between the back of the 
toilet seat and the hinges. The overhand is due to the excess of expanded 
polymer needed to make the back corners fit properly. 
The toilet seat cover of the present invention has the advantages that: 
1. It insulates from the cold; 
2. It provides cushioning comfort; 
3. It sheds water; and 
4. It wipes clean easily.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With particular reference to FIG. 1, the seat cover 1 is shown in a top 
plan pattern view with a hole 2 cut out or died therefrom. 
The seat cover is made from 1/8th inch polyethylene foam sheet material 4 
and an elastic strip 6 is secured to the front and side edges in a 
continuous ribbon by stitching 8. 
No elastic material is attached to the rear edge 7 of the pattern. 
In FIG. 2 it is seen that the seat cover is affixed to the seat by the 
gripping action of the elastic tape 7 on all edges save the rear edge of 
toilet seat 10. Toilet seat bumpers 12 are shown mounted on the bottom of 
toilet seat 10. 
FIG. 3 shows in detail the elastic 6 overlapping the outer edge of seat 
cover 4 and secured by elastic thread 8. 
The present invention is characterized by ease of installation in which the 
cover is mounted on a toilet seat by stretching the elastic taped edges 
over all sides of the toilet seat except the rear edge and then held in 
place in a wrinkle-free, comfortable fashion. 
The expandable foam is easily cleaned and the whole seat cover is easily 
removed from the toilet seat and replaced. 
Because of the low cost of materials the present seat cover can be used in 
hospitals as a throw-away item and for purposes of sanitation.